Abstract: A switched communications system including store and forward facilities is provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein, in an exemplary embodiment, any of a plurality of teleprinter or teletypewriter peripherals may be given access to the communication system and input information thereto destined for one or more peripherals thereof. Input information from a transmitting peripheral is stored under the control of a central switching system which acts to inspect the destination information associated therewith. If a destination peripheral employing facsimile equipment has been designated, a facsimile controller is enabled and destination information associated with the facsimile peripheral defined is provided thereto from the central switching system.