Automated message retrieval system

Apparatus for automatically polling message service systems to obtain messages for an user of the apparatus. The apparatus is a computer (110) attached to the user's telephone connected to a communication switching system. The computer responds to messages from the communication switching system (100) or to an internal real time clock timing out to poll a number of message service systems (103, 104, 106) to obtain messages for the user. The computer automatically perform logon procedures, message access procedures and message deletion procedures with the various message service systems. If the message service system is audio only, the computer generates audio tones and interprets verbal instructions in order to implement the above procedures.