NETWORK BASED VOICE MAIL SYSTEM WITH TOLLSAVER FEATURE

A new intelligent network feature that provides switch based voice mail systems with the same dial up toll saver indications as the better customer premises answering machine equipment. If there are no messages, the tollsaver feature will have the voice mail system pick up after the normal number of rings, typically four or five. If there are messages, the voice mail system will pick up after fewer rings, typically two or three. Thus, if the subscriber calls in remotely he or she can and should hang up after three rings to avoid an unnecessary toll charge for an empty voice mail box. However, if the subscriber calls in and waits for three rings and hears the system start to pick up, then the subscriber knows that the call will be worth the connect charge because there is a message to playback. Thus, by this method and apparatus switch based voice mail has the same tollsaver feature as home answering machines.