System and method for external voice mail notification by a home network telephone answering device

A system for a Home Network telephone answering device (TAD) to notify external systems of voice mail messages, the system comprising:

• at least one Home Network (HN) endpoint for transceiving Home Network telephone communications;
• a gateway having a port to transceive telephone communications between the at least one endpoint and an external communication media;
• and,
• a Home Network TAD having a port connected to accept and record voice mail messages addressed to registered HN endpoints, and to send notification of the recorded message, via the gateway, to a system external to the Home Network.

A method for a Home Network telephone answering device (TAD) to notify external systems of voice mail messages, the method comprising:

• establishing a Home Network system including a notification list cross-referencing notification addresses with incoming telephone numbers;
• recording a voice mail message on a Home Network TAD, for registered Home Network endpoints;
• and,
• sending a notification of the recorded message from the TAD to a system external to the Home Network in response to the incoming telephone number.