Abstract: A method and apparatus in a H.323 based network to effect messaging from a message server to a calling subscriber prior to or during a usual call establishment. The calling subscriber sends a SETUP message to an associated Gatekeeper to request a call set-up. On receiving the request, the Gatekeeper searches a stored caller service profile for information regarding the messaging service. If the search is successful, the gatekeeper sends, on basis of the caller service profile information contents, a SETUP message to the message server, and the transfer of the message from the message server to the caller is effected. The originally requested call set-up is then completed according to known H.323 call set-up procedures.