A data acquisition and remote administration system for use during a communication session between at least one client computer and a computerized voice mail server computer system with the at least one client computer and the voice mail server computer system each having a mechanism for establishing a communication link therebetween with the means for establishing a communication link including address and connection information necessary to establish the communication link. The client computer has an application component and includes a mechanism for logging into the voice mail server computer system, once the communication link is established, for authorizing access to information of the voice mail server computer system. Once access is authorized, the system has a mechanism for requesting information, stored in an internal data base of the voice mail server computer system via use of a KERMIT data transfer protocol. The voice mail server computer system receives the KERMIT data transfer protocol and compiles a data set from the internal data base of the voice mail server computer system and transmits the compiled data set to the client computer using the KERMIT data transfer protocol. The client computer includes a mechanism for receiving the complied data set from the voice mail server computer system and storing the complied data set in a temporary storage area prior to sending the received data set to the application component.