Call message delivery system and method utilizing caller-selected system announcements

A method of operating a call message delivery system for use with a telephone network for serving stations connectable to the network, comprising the steps of:

• recording a caller's voice as a voice message,
• enabling a caller at a station calling said call message delivery system to request a delivery of said voice message recorded by said caller to a party at a caller-specified telephone number;
• prompting, in response to said message delivery request, the caller to select at least one of a plurality of system announcements to be delivered with said caller's recorded voice message to said party at said caller-specified telephone number;
• and
• wherein said system uses said caller-specified telephone number digits received from the caller during the enabling step to identify at least one of said plurality of system announcements for selection by said caller.

A call message delivery system for use with a communication network for delivery call messages to stations connectable to said network, said system comprising:

• means for recording a caller's voice as a voice message,
• means for receiving from a caller a request to deliver said voice message recorded by said caller to a party at a caller-specified telephone number;
• means for prompting the caller, in response to said message delivery request, to select at least one of a plurality of system announcements to be delivered with said caller's recorded voice message to said party;
• and
• wherein the call delivery system uses said caller-specified telephone number digits received from the caller to identify at least one of said plurality of system announcements for selection by said caller.