In one embodiment, a translation gateway is for use between a network of a
messaging service provider and a hostile data network. The gateway is to
forward messages using a secure connection through the hostile network,
to a customer's network. Different types of inbound messages (e.g.,
voice; fax) can be delivered to a single client process running on a
customer machine on the customer network. In addition, the translation
gateway may be used to securely forward different types of outbound
messages originating from the client process to the service provider's
network (where the messages are retransmitted as voice calls or
facsimiles into a telephone network). Other embodiments are also
described and claimed.