Any system for sending, storing and retrieving href="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=audio">audio messages, like a telephone answering machine. A voice mailbox is typically associated with a telephone number or extension. When the number is called and the line is busy or not answered, the caller hears a message left by the owner and is given instructions for leaving a message or other available options, such as paging the individual or being transferred to an operator. The owner of a mailbox can change the outgoing message or listen to incoming messages after entering a href="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=PIN">PIN. Members of a voice mail system can generally forward or href="module.php?name=Lexikon&file=search&eid=1&query=broadcast">broadcast messages to other members' boxes. The experience of two people trying to reach other by telephone but always reaching each other' s voice mail is referred to as "(tele)phone tag". (1996-11-03)
