A voicemail short messaging method (10, 20, 30) and unit and a subscriber
terminal for instantaneous packet switched voicemail between Internet
compatible computers, personal digital assistants, telephones and mobile
stations. In particular the subscriber terminal (500) concerns a hardware
and a software setup that allows the combined use of audio and/or video
devices (550) with both the normal cellular or fixed telephony network
(520) and with an Internet connection (510). The subscriber terminal
(500) allows the flexible use of both the Internet and telephony network
with numerous advantages, one of which is the inventive voicemail short
messaging method under study. The voicemail messaging method (10),
comprising at least one subscriber terminal is characterized by server
independence.