Method and apparatus for enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party

A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:

• determining that the calling party is attempting to establish a telephone call with the called party;
• determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service;
• consulting at least one source of information to obtain message destination information associated with the called party's telephone number;
• upon determining that the calling party subscribes to the messaging service, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a voice message for the called party via the communication device;
• generating an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party;
• and
• causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

Non-transitory computer-readable media storing a program element for execution by a computer system to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the computer system being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said program element comprising:

• first program code for causing the computer system to determine that the calling party is attempting to establish a telephone call with the called party;
• second program code for causing the computer system to determine whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service;
• third program code for causing the computer system to consult at least one source of information to obtain message destination information associated with the called party's telephone number;
• fourth program code for causing the computer system to provide an opportunity for the calling party to leave a voice message for the called party via the communication device, upon the computer system determining that the calling party subscribes to the messaging service;
• program code for causing the computer system to generate an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party;
• and
• sixth program code for causing the computer system to cause transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.