A common phone number which is used only among a specific group consisting of
members
registered in a network is ensured to enable transmitting/receiving a message file
at an arbitrary point of time. A management terminal in a network sends identification
names of prescribed communication terminals corresponding to an issued common phone
number to a phone number management center so as to register the communication
terminals in correspondence with common phone number. A message file sent from
an arbitrary one of the communication terminals to the common phone number is sent
to all the other registered communication terminals or left in a message center,
and the arrival of the message file is notified to all the other registered communication
terminals. A message sent from an arbitrary one of the communication terminals
to the common phone number can also be left on a bulletin board, allowing other
registered communication terminals to read the message file left in the message
center or the message left on the bulletin board at any time.