Abstract: A method and apparatus for personalizing voice messages to be used by a voice mail system in interacting with a user based on information provided by the user in an interactive communication between the voice mail system and the user. The method comprises the steps of creating sets of recorded messages according to distinct personalities for interacting with the voice mail system, selecting a recorded message from the plurality of sets of recorded messages based on interactive inquiries between the user and the voice mail system, and personalizing the selected recorded message responsive to the information provided by the user.

Abstract: A system comprises a voice application with which a user interacts, and at least one dynamically-loadable phrase book library, separate from the voice application, that comprises, for each of a plurality of different phrases of a particular language, a method comprising code that when executed causes the phrase to be played. The voice application invokes execution of a selected method of the dynamically-loadable phrase book library to cause a corresponding phrase to be played to the user. In this manner, the code that causes different phrases to be played is separated from the voice application. A method for designing such a system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for organizing and managing information to be used by a voice mail system to facilitate call handling based on information contained in an address book having a database with entries corresponding to information about callers and a user interface. The method comprising the steps of automatically or manually creating an entry in the address book associated with the information about a caller, maintaining the address book based on a set of options provided by the user interface, and managing the voice mail system corresponding to the address book by interacting with the user interface. Calls can be initiated and different calls can be treated differently using the information in the address books.