Abstract: A telephone system including improved automated routing of telephone calls based upon caller ID data. If caller ID data is received, it is used as a search key to search a routing table listing extensions normally called by one or more persons identified by their caller IDs. If a match is found, the call is automatically transferred to the extension or voice mail box listed in the routing table. In some embodiments, the caller is given options to block the automatic routing or block recording of a voice mail message in favor of transfer to a caller specified extension or to an attendant. Also disclosed is improved voice mail wherein a digital signal processor scans data to be recorded in a voice mail message to find DTMF tones or DTMF mimics in the voice data and removes them from the recording so that no false DTMF commands will be recognized during playback by any DTMF detector which is active during the playback.