Gateway apparatus for transferring voice mail to an electronic mail server or transferring electronic mail to a voice mail apparatus

A gateway apparatus connected between an electronic mail server and a public telephone network, said gateway apparatus communicating with a voice mail apparatus via a telephone line, said electronic mail server being connected to at least one personal computer, said gateway apparatus comprising:

• voice mail retrieving means for retrieving voice mail addressed to a selected user from said voice mail apparatus, said voice mail retrieving means retrieving the voice mail via a private branch exchanger connected to the public telephone network by transmitting push button tone signals to said voice mail apparatus to access a voice mail box of the user;
• voice mail converting means comprising an analog-to-digital converter for converting the voice mail into electronic mail by converting an analog voice signal corresponding to a voice message contained with the voice mail into digital data conforming to electronic mail, said digital data in the electronic mail corresponding to a complete textual conversion of the voice message;
• box number converting means for converting a voice mail box number corresponding to the voice mail box of the retrieved voice mail into an electronic mail address which is assigned for the selected user, wherein the voice mail box number is converted to the assigned electronic mail address after the voice mail is retrieved by the voice mail retrieving means;
• and
• transferring means for transferring the electronic mail to the electronic mail server so that the electronic mail is distributed to the personal computer connected to said electronic mail server in accordance with the electronic mail address obtained by said box number converting means.