Patent ID: 6985563

Claim:
A method for selectively deactivating voicemail services in a network-based voicemail system, comprising: contacting the network-based voicemail system; providing the voicemail system with instructions for temporary deactivation of the subscriber's voicemail services provided by the voicemail system; requesting a set period of time for the temporary deactivation of the subscriber's voicemail services, wherein the subscriber's voicemail services are automatically reactivated in response to the expiration of the set period of time; receiving a call directed to the subscriber at a subscriber's switch; routing the call to the voicemail system for provision of voicemail services to the subscriber; determining whether the subscriber's voicemail services have been deactivated; if the subscriber's voicemail services have been deactivated, disconnecting the call directed to the subscriber; if the subscriber's voicemail services have not been deactivated, routing the call to the subscriber's voicemail services for allowing the calling party to leave a voice message for the subscriber: providing the subscriber with an indication that the calling party has left a voice message for the subscriber: receiving the voice message from the calling party; eliminating the indication that the calling party has left a voice message for the subscriber; determining whether the voice message provided to the subscriber has been designated as unheard; and if the voice message has been designated as unheard, then reactivating the indication that the calling party has left a voice message for the subscriber.