A method and system for identifying an unwanted caller using a call answering system. The method comprises receiving, by a call records server, information about callers from a plurality of telephony devices and one or more phone number data sources, classifying, by the call records server, one or more of the callers as either wanted or unwanted callers based on the received information, and storing, by the call records server, the received information and the classification of the one or more of the callers into a directory. The method further comprises identifying, by a call answering server, that a call from a given caller from a phone number to a receiving telephony device is from an unwanted caller by searching the directory, and handling, by the call answering server, the call from the given caller according to one or more preferences of the user, the one or more preferences including rejecting the call from the receiving telephony device, playing a recorded message, and disposing of the call.

Techniques are disclosed for transmitting an announcement to one or more devices. In one example, a first device receives a first message that includes an announcement, the announcement associated with a voice that spoke the announcement. The first device may determine the announcement from the first message, and then identify one or more devices for receiving the announcement. The one or more devices may have a particular device type of a plurality of different device types comprising at least a mobile device. The first device may determine a network path through which a second message is transmitted based at least in part on the location of a second device. In accordance with a determination that the second device is located within a local area network associated with a home environment, the first device transmits the second message over the local area network. In accordance with a determination that the second device is located away from a local area network associated with a home environment, the first device transmits the second message over the wide area network.

One example method of operation may include one or more of identifying an incoming call via a communication processing device, terminating the incoming call at a call management device, identifying one or more caller attributes received with the incoming call, comparing the one or more caller attributes to one or more call recipient preferences stored in a call recipient profile, and transmitting a notification, via the call management device, to a call recipient device based on the one or more caller attributes and the one or more call recipient preferences.

Techniques are disclosed for transmitting an announcement to one or more devices. In one example, a first device receives a first message that includes an announcement, the announcement associated with a voice that spoke the announcement. The first device may determine the announcement from the first message, and then identify one or more devices for receiving the announcement. The one or more devices may have a particular device type of a plurality of different device types comprising at least a mobile device. The first device may then transmit a second message to the one or more devices for presentation of the announcement by the one or more devices.

One example method of operation may include one or more of identifying an incoming call via a communication processing device, terminating the incoming call at a call management device, identifying one or more caller attributes received with the incoming call, comparing the one or more caller attributes to one or more call recipient preferences stored in a call recipient profile, and transmitting a notification, via the call management device, to a call recipient device based on the one or more caller attributes and the one or more call recipient preferences.

Disclosed are an electronic device and a method for transmitting a message. A method of operating an electronic device may include: determining by a processor whether a call with a counterpart electronic device is possible; and transmitting a call wish message through a communication network to the counterpart electronic device when the call is not possible based on a result of the determination.

A method and system for identifying an unwanted caller using a call answering system. The method comprises receiving, by a call records server, information about callers from a plurality of telephony devices and one or more phone number data sources, classifying, by the call records server, one or more of the callers as either wanted or unwanted callers based on the received information, and storing, by the call records server, the received information and the classification of the one or more of the callers into a directory. The method further comprises identifying, by a call answering server, that a call from a given caller from a phone number to a receiving telephony device is from an unwanted caller by searching the directory, and handling, by the call answering server, the call from the given caller according to one or more preferences of the user, the one or more preferences including rejecting the call from the receiving telephony device, playing a recorded message, and disposing of the call.

Systems, methods, and computer hardware, software, and/or media provide voice messaging systems operating on mobile electronic devices. The voice messaging systems provide voice messaging capability without relying on initiation of a telephone call by the mobile electronic device, and further provide video playback greetings to the user of the electronic mobile device that are controlled by the user recording and sending the voice message rather than by the recipient. Implementations of the invention further provide video playback greetings that are controlled by the recipient of a telephone call but that are delivered to the calling mobile electronic device while the telephone call continues.

A method is provided for safeguarding anonymity during a communication with a correspondent, between a caller and a user being called. The communication has an anonymous nature. The method includes the following steps: upon receiving a response from the correspondent to the communication sent by the caller, putting the caller on hold; analysis of the response received from the correspondent, for determining whether the correspondent corresponds to the voicemail of the user being called; and in the case of a positive determination, playing to the caller an anonymous welcome message in which the identity of the user being called is masked.

Methods and apparatus for providing voicemail services to callers of wireless devices may include providing customized outgoing messages to callers based upon the caller's identification. A subscriber to the voicemail service may select one or more contacts associated with the subscriber to receive a customized outgoing message while the remaining callers receive a general outgoing message. The methods and apparatus may further include distributing voicemail messages from a subscriber's voicemail accounts to one or more social networking sites. The subscriber to the voicemail services may share one or more received voicemail messages via one or more social networking accounts associated with the subscriber.