An apparatus and method are provided for addressing and broadcasting a message
to recipients having both telephone network-based receiving devices and data network-based
receiving devices. The apparatus includes a message router that translates the
broadcast message into individual messages that are addressed to each message recipient
in a format, e.g., voice, text, email, fax, pager, compatible with each message
recipient's receiving device. The individual messages are transmitted by a data
network server over a data network. Individual messages designated for recipients
having receiving devices addressable by the data network are delivered directly
over the data network to the receiving devices. Individual messages designated
for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the telephone network are
delivered over the data network first to a telephone network server. The telephone
network server then delivers the individual messages to the telephone network-based
receiving devices over the telephone network via a local telephone switch corresponding
to the telephone network server.