Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring information received from a server that is operationally coupled to a telephone line, comprising an alarm signal generating circuit which generates an alarm signal at a selected time. A circuit, which is responsive to the alarm signal and operatively coupled to the telephone line, transmits selected information to the server. A circuit selects a message for sending by the server from a plurality of messages based upon the information transmitted to the server. A circuit that is operatively coupled to the telephone line presents to the user the selected message received from the server. In an alternative embodiment, a set of data is selected for sending by the server from a plurality of sets of data based upon the information transmitted to the server. A microprocessor having a digital memory, operatively coupled to the telephone line, stores the set of data received from the server. Such data may be used to control mechanical devices.