Abstract: Voice message storage from a first plurality of telephones, such as a plurality of coin operated pay phones, is provided by a multiprocessor system including a CPU, a software driven line card connected to each coin operated telephone line, and a single voice message computer. The voice message computer and the line cards are coupled together through a private internal data bus which is independent of the telephone lines and the central office switch systems. The voice message computer provides spot advertising of selected messages during dead times in the telephone connection, provides abbreviated, coin-free, speed dialing, coin box accounting, and remote automated coin box diagnostic monitoring. Voice messages are stored in the voice message computer, which originate both at a pay phone for later delivery to a phone through the central office switching system, or which originate with a telephone directly connected to the central office switching system.