Call message delivery system and method

A call delivery system, for use with a common carrier network for delivering voice messages to stations connectable to said network;

• means for receiving a call from a caller requesting to bill to a caller's billing code a voice message call to a called station;
• data base means responsive to said received voice message call for storing in a status memory location, identifiable using said caller's billing code, a status message indicating the status of a voice message call and for storing said voice message in a voice file identifiable using said caller's billing code;
• and
• processor means responsive to a subsequent call inquiry from said caller for checking said status memory location using the caller's billing code and outputting the status message to the caller.

A call processing method for a common carrier network arrangement including a call delivery system for serving stations connectable to said network, the method comprising the steps of:

• enabling a caller, who is not a subscriber of said network, at a station calling a called station to bill to a credit card number a request to deliver a voice message receivable from said calling station;
• establishing, in response to receipt of said request, a memory location identifiable using said credit card number for storing said voice message and the status of said request;
• attempting a subsequent delivery of said message to said called station;
• recording a status of said attempting delivery step in said status memory location;
• and
• in response to a subsequent call from the caller using said credit card number, checking said memory location and outputting the status to the caller.