Message exchange server allowing enhanced message charge allocation, and method

An apparatus facilitating exchange of voice messages, comprising:

• a network interface interconnecting said apparatus to a communications network, to allow a message originator to dispatch a voice message to a recipient;
• a processor in communication with said network interface;
• memory for storing voice messages to be exchanged,
• said memory storing program instructions, adapting said apparatus to:
• receive from said originator an indicator of whether a charge for a voice message is to be borne by said originator or by said recipient;
• allocate said charge to one of said originator and said recipient, based on said indicator.

A method of operating a message exchange device comprising:

• storing greetings originating with each of a plurality of users using said message exchange device;
• obtaining from each of said plurality of users an indicator of whether that user wishes to pay to use said message exchange server, thereby classifying each of said plurality of users as a paying or non-paying user;
• allowing paying users access to all of said stored greetings;
• allowing non-paying users access to only those greetings originating with paying users.

A message exchange server comprising computer readable memory storing

• a plurality of messages, each of said messages associated with a user of said server;
• a plurality of indicators, each identifying whether a user pays to use said message exchange server and is thereby a paying user, or whether a user does not pay to use said service and is thereby a non-paying user;
• software, adapting said server to
• allow those paying users access to all of said plurality of messages;
• allow non-paying users access to only those messages associated with paying users.

A computer readable medium, storing computer executable instructions that when loaded at a message exchange server, used to exchange messages between users, to:

• store greetings originating with each of a plurality of users using said message exchange device;
• obtain from each of said plurality of users an indicator of whether that user wishes to pay to use said message exchange server, thereby classifying each of said plurality of users as a paying or non-paying user;
• allow paying users access to all of said stored greetings;
• allow non-paying users access to only those greetings originating with paying users.