Method and system for interfacing systems unified messaging with legacy systems located behind corporate firewalls

A system for integrating at least one legacy messaging system into a unified messaging system, comprising:

• a unified message server for providing messages from different messaging systems to users in a predetermined format;
• at least one proxy interface for accessing the at least one legacy messaging system in response to a request from the unified message server;
• and
• a message protocol converter, operatively associated with the proxy interface, for converting messages stored by the at least one legacy messaging system to a predetermined protocol usable by the unified message server.

A method for integrating at least one legacy messaging system into a unified messaging system, comprising:

• enabling a unified message server to deliver messages from disparate messaging systems to users in a predetermined format;
• interfacing the unified message server to the at least one legacy messaging system so that the at least one legacy messaging system is responsive to access requests from the unified message server;
• and
• converting messages stored by the at least one legacy messaging system to a predetermined protocol usable by the unified message server.

A system for providing unified messaging services, comprising:

• a unified message server for providing messages from disparate messaging systems to users in a predetermined format;
• a legacy email system for receiving and storing email messages;
• a legacy voice mail system for receiving and storing voice mail messages;
• an email proxy interface for accessing the legacy email system in response to a first request from the unified message server;
• a voice mail proxy interface for accessing the legacy voice mail system in response to a second request from the unified message server;
• a message protocol converter, operatively associated with the voice mail proxy interface for converting voice mail messages stored by the legacy voice mail system to a predetermined protocol usable by the unified message server;
• and
• a communications network, operatively connecting the unified message server to the legacy voice mail and email systems, for permitting messages to be transferred from the legacy voice mail and email systems to the unified message server.