Abstract: An integrated text based TTY system comprises a telephone network, a private branch exchange ("PBX"), a voice mail system, and a text server, all in communication with one another. The telephone network and the PBX are adapted to receive a TTY call from a calling party from a TTY device to a called party. The PBX is also in communication with a telephone to which the called party has access. The called party has access to the terminal device that is in communication with the text server via a network. The text server uses a identification information associated with the TTY call that identifies the called party, so that the text server can check a database of individuals able to receive the TTY call to determine whether the called party is in the database and is able to receive the TTY call.

Abstract: A process of transferring a message transferred by a TTY call from a calling party to a called party comprising the following steps: (a) receiving the TTY call in a port adapted to receive the TTY call; (b) recognizing the TTY call as conforming to TTY standards and translating the TTY call to ASCII; (c) initiating a request for the calling party provide identification information to identify the called party and to leave a message and converting the request to conform to the TTY standards to create a converted response, and sending the converted response to the calling party, (d) receiving the identification information to identify the called party and the message, converting the identification information and the message to ASCII to create a converted message; identifying a voice mail box accessible by the called party with the identification information in a voice mail system; (e) converting the message into an audio message; and storing the audio message in the voice mail box.