Unified messaging feature that plays greetings based on the received calling party number

A messaging system is provided for playing a messaging prompt in response to a request for execution of a messaging operation. The request contains calling party number information. The messaging system includes an application runtime environment configured for retrieving for playback as the messaging prompt, a personalized voice message based on a match of the received calling party number information with calling party number information stored in an Internet Protocol (IP) based database server. The personalized voice message corresponds to the matched, stored calling number information of the calling party. Hence, a subscriber can record personalized greeting for preferred callers such that when a preferred caller reaches the subscriber's voice mail, the personalized greeting for that caller is played. If the caller is not a preferred caller, a generic greeting is played.