A novel communication system allows telephone customers to send and retrieve
e-mail
using only conventional telephone units. The system includes an "E-mail Device"
(EMD), which is a special host computer for enabling customers to remotely create,
send, retrieve and store e-mail messages. The EMD resides in the central office
as part of a PSTN, or with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Subscribers to the
e-mail service can give calling parties the option of leaving e-mail messages when
the subscribers' telephone lines are busy. Customers can also create and send e-mail
messages by either dialing an access code to connect directly to the EMD, or dialing
an ISP with a resident EMD. Once connected to the EMD, the customer is guided through
menus to send either pre-stored or custom e-mail messages to a chosen customer,
telephone number, or e-mail address. The message information and details are entered
via the touch-tone pad, or by voice, followed with voice-to-text conversion. Retrieval
of e-mail messages is also through conventional telephone units by placing a call
to the EMD and specifying the Destination Number of interest. The EMD can require
the entry of a PIN for security purposes. Audio versions of the e-mail messages
are played for the customer. The customer can then store the text versions of the
messages if desired.
