Patent ID: 7054423

Claim:
A desk top telephone station for use with a packet-switched network, the desk top telephone station comprising: a network interface configured to couple to the packet-switched network; a docking station interface configured to couple to each of a plurality of portable communication devices, each of the plurality of portable communication devices being uniquely associated with one of a plurality of users; a voice interface including a microphone configured to receive sound signals and a speaker configured to provide sound signals; a user activated electronic message control which, if activated by the user, is indicative of a command to view electronic messages; and a communication controller coupled to the voice interface, the docking-station interface, the user activated control, and the network interface, the communication controller executing instructions for: initiating communication to the portable communication device to obtain, from the portable communication device, information that is needed to access the user's electronic message inbox; generating an electronic message download request in response to detection of the command to view electronic messages, the electronic message download request including the account access information; sending the electronic message download request to a remote electronic message system; receiving, from the remote electronic message system, electronic messages from the inbox accessible with the account access information; and generating, on the portable communication device, a display of a listing of the electronic messages received from the electronic messaging system wherein the communication controller further: receives, from the portable communication device, an indication of user selection of a one of the electronic messages represented in the display of a listing of electronic messages that includes an attached audio file; and in response to receipt of such indication, drives the voice interface to output an audio representation of the audio file through the speaker.