Method and arrangement for storing telecommunication messages in a private telecommunication exchange

The arrangement comprises first and second memory devices ZSP1, ZSP2, ... ZSPn; TSP1, TSP2, ... TSPn, which are allocated to message- receiving or message-transmitting telecommunications terminals T1, T2, ... Tn. Messages destined for message-receiving telecommunications terminals are stored in the second memory devices TSP1, TSP2, ... TSPn along with independent, abridged parts of these messages under the telephone number of the relevant message-receiving telecommunications terminals. Only a reference to these messages is stored in the first memory devices ZSP1, ZSP2, ... ZSPn. If a reference is present, the relevant message parts and, where appropriate, the complete message parts are retrieved from the second memory devices TSP1, TSP2, ... TSPn and supplied to the telecommunications terminals. The sender and the recipient of messages can access the messages with no need for duplicate storage. Amendments to messages can easily be made by the sender prior to retrieval by the recipient, with no need for the first memory devices ZSP1, ZSP2, ... ZSPn to be accessed.