Abstract: A message retrieval system is disclosed which includes a plurality of answering machines, each connected to respected telephone line. Each answering machine records telephone responses on a respective message memory unit and all message memory units are connected to a single message processor. The message processor is in turn connected to a number of retrieval consoles used by operators to transcribe messages from the message memory units.

Abstract: A message retrieval system is disclosed which includes a plurality of answering machines, each connected to respected telephone line. Each answering machine records telephone responses on a respective message memory unit and all message memory units are connected to a single message processor. The message processor is in turn connected to a number of retrieval consoles used by operators to transcribe messages from the message memory units.

Abstract: A message delivery system is described which includes a plurality of announce units, each of which includes means for storing a respective message segment. A controller activates selected ones of the announce units in sequence in order to broadcast a message made up of a plurality of message segments to a number of line interface units. Each of the line interface units is connected to a respective telephone line and acts to transmit the message to the associated telephone line. The controller activates selected ones of the announce units which store selected message segments in a predetermined sequence such that a total message made up of a number of separate segments is broadcast to the line interface units. Each message segment is recorded with an end of segment signal which is detected by the announce unit at the end of the respective segment. Each announce unit generates an end of segment signal which is used by the controller in order automatically to sequence the announce units in the proper order.

Abstract: A call distributor for use with a plurality of telephone lines is described which includes an automatic telephone answering machine which interrogates the calling party with a prerecorded message and transmits the calling party's response to this message to a recorder. The recorded response is then replayed to an operator who intercepts the call in order to converse with the calling party after auditing the recorded response. The call distributor of this invention thereby combines the flexibility of an operator assisted call distributor with the efficiency of automatic interrogation of the calling party.