Message backup, in which a method initiates establishment of an active telephone call to a voicemail server of a telecommunications service, the voicemail server storing a voicemail message; receives an audio stream from the voicemail server during the active telephone call, the audio stream being part of the active telephone call, wherein the voicemail message is played back as part of the audio stream; initiates recording of at least a portion of the audio stream of the active telephone call, the portion of the audio stream comprising the voicemail message; and streams the portion of the audio stream from the computer system to a remote system.

Message backup, in which a method initiates establishment of an active telephone call to a voicemail server of a telecommunications service, the voicemail server storing a voicemail message; receives an audio stream from the voicemail server during the active telephone call, the audio stream being part of the active telephone call, wherein the voicemail message is played back as part of the audio stream; initiates recording of at least a portion of the audio stream of the active telephone call, the portion of the audio stream comprising the voicemail message; and streams the portion of the audio stream from the computer system to a remote system.

Various embodiments provide real-time translation of a voicemail into a readable format as the voicemail is being recorded. In some cases, a system server records the voicemail by first answering a call from an originating device that goes unanswered by a destination device. Upon answering the call, the system server translates the recording, while it is being recorded, into a readable format. Alternately or additionally, the system server forwards portions of the readable format to the destination device. In turn, as the destination device receives portion(s) of the real-time translation, it can display the associated content, and/or update what is displayed as new portions are received. At times, the destination device provides additional call control that interrupts the voicemail while it is being recorded at the system server, and redirects the call to the destination device if the originating device is still connected.

Facilities are provided herein for backing up messages and related activities. An active telephone call is initiated to a voicemail server and recording of the audio stream of the active telephone call is initiated to record a voicemail message being played back during the telephone call. The recorded voicemail message may then be edited, tagged, enhanced, organized with other messages, and shared, as examples. In another aspect, backup of messages is facilitated by an intermediary system that establishes an active telephone call between a voicemail server and a client. The intermediary system passes a request from the client to the voicemail server to commence playback of a voicemail message, and the intermediary system records a portion of the audio stream of the active telephone call.