Method and apparatus for delivering enhanced messages to a calling party

A method for receiving a message from a called party as part of a call, comprising:

• placing a call from a calling party to said called party;
• receiving a message document address identifying a document that should be presented to said calling party if said called party is unavailable;
• obtaining a message document identified by said message document address;
• and
• presenting said message document to said calling party.

A system for providing message information to a calling party, comprising:

• a memory that stores computer-readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to:
• obtain a message document address identifying a message document that should be presented to said calling party;
• determine if a called party associated with said call is available;
• and
• provide said message document address to said calling party as part of said call in response to a determination that said called party is unavailable.

A system for providing message information to a calling party, comprising:

• a memory that stores computer-readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to:
• place a call from a calling party to said called party;
• receive a message document address identifying a document that should be presented to said called party if said called party is unavailable;
• obtain a message document identified by said message document address;
• and
• present said message document to said called party.

A system for receiving a message from a called party, comprising:

• a memory that stores computer-readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to:
• receive a message document address identifying a document that should be presented to said calling party if said called party is unavailable;
• obtain a message document identified by said message document address;
• and
• present said message document to said calling party.

An article of manufacture for providing message information to a calling party, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising:
• a step to obtain a message document address identifying a message document that should be presented to said calling party;
• a step to determine if a called party associated with said call is available;
• and
• a step to provide said message document address to said calling party as part of said call in response to a determination that said called party is unavailable.