Voicemail Systems and Methods

• US 20080167011A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lamiraux, Henri, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Novick, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/620,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

Systems, methods and machine readable media for processing voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface which is capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails and receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails. The data representing the plurality of voicemails are received from a second data processing system which includes a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier, and the first user interface is configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order. Systems, media and other methods are also described.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails in the user interface.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display of the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel; and

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

4. The method as in claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection; and

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

5. The method as in claim 2, wherein the user interface of the plurality of voicemails comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers.

6. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and the first user interface comprises a displayed list of the metadata, and wherein the displayed list is displayed separately from emails, and wherein the order of metadata in the displayed list is based on the time of receipt of a voicemail and the selection may be in a different order.

8. The method as in claim 6 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes a least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

10. The method as in claim 7 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

11. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone which receives the data representing the plurality of voicemails from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises a displayed list of metadata of the plurality of voicemails.

13. The method as in claim 11 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control, (c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

15. The method as in claim 12 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers including a wireless local area network transceiver, and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

16. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of;

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

17. The method as in claim 16 wherein the handheld personal computer has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has a display on one face of the handheld personal computer and wherein a touch input panel is integrated with the display and wherein the handheld personal computer comprises at least one of (a) a proximity sensor;

(b) an ambient light sensor;

(c) an accelerometer; and

(d) other sensors for sensing a user or user action, and wherein the first user interface displays the plurality of voicemails separately from emails.

18. The method as in claim 17 wherein the voicemail system is controlled by a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the voicemail system records voicemails left for customers of the public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

19. The method as in claim 18 wherein at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored, for local playback, on the handheld personal computer.

20. The method as in claim 19 wherein the at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored automatically in response to connecting to the voicemail system.

21. The method as in claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying, in response to the selection, a playback user interface which includes at least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the handheld personal computer, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface.

23. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

24. The method as in claim 23 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display of the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

25. The method as in claim 24 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel; and

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

26. The method as in claim 24, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection; and

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

27. The method as in claim 24, wherein the user interface of the plurality of voicemails comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers.

28. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

29. The method as in claim 28 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and the first user interface comprises a displayed list of the metadata, and wherein the displayed list is displayed separately from emails, and wherein the order of metadata in the displayed list is based on the time of receipt of a voicemail and the selection may be in a different order.

30. The method as in claim 28 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

31. The method as in claim 29, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes a least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

32. The method as in claim 29 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

33. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

34. The method as in claim 33 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone which receives the data representing the plurality of voicemails from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises a displayed list of metadata of the plurality of voicemails.

35. The method as in claim 33 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

36. The method as in claim 33, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

37. The method as in claim 34 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers including a wireless local area network transceiver, and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

38. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of;

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

39. The method as in claim 38 wherein the handheld personal computer has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has a display on one face of the handheld personal computer and wherein a touch input panel is integrated with the display and wherein the handheld personal computer comprises at least one of (a) a proximity sensor;

(b) an ambient light sensor;

(c) an accelerometer; and

(d) other sensors for sensing a user or user action, and wherein the first user interface displays the plurality of voicemails separately from emails.

40. The method as in claim 39 wherein the voicemail system is controlled by a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the voicemail system records voicemails left for customers of the public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

41. The method as in claim 40 wherein at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored, for local playback, on the handheld personal computer.

42. The method as in claim 41 wherein the at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored automatically in response to connecting to the voicemail system.

43. The method as in claim 41, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying, in response to the selection, a playback user interface which includes at least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

44. The method as in claim 43, wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the handheld personal computer, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface.

45. A machine implemented method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data to present, on the second data processing system, a user interface which is capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the second data processing system;

responding, by the first data processing system, to a selection from the user interface for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the second data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails.

46. The method as in claim 45, wherein the first data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display and wherein the voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

47. A machine implemented method comprising:

recording voicemails left for a customer of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data representing the voicemails left for the customer, the second data processing system presenting a user interface for selecting one of the voicemails in any order.

48. The method as in claim 47 wherein the first data processing system records the voicemails and wherein the data representing the voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and wherein the user interface comprises a displayed list which displays voicemails separately from emails.

49. The method as in claim 48, wherein the method further comprises:

responding, by the first data processing system, to a selecting from the user interface.

50. A machine implemented method comprising:

recording voicemails left for a user of a first data processing system;

transmitting, from a second data processing system to the first data processing system, data representing the voicemails, the data representing the voicemails being presented in a user interface which is configured to receive a selection of any one of the voicemails in any order and wherein the voicemails are presented separately from emails.

51. The method as in claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

responding, by the second data processing system, to a selection in the user interface.

52. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails in the user interface.

53. The medium as in claim 52 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display of the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

54. The medium as in claim 53 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel; and

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

55. The medium as in claim 53, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection; and

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

56. The medium as in claim 53, wherein the user interface of the plurality of voicemails comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers.

57. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

58. The medium as in claim 57 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and the first user interface comprises a displayed list of the metadata, and wherein the displayed list is displayed separately from emails, and wherein the order of metadata in the displayed list is based on the time of receipt of a voicemail and the selection may be in a different order.

59. The medium as in claim 57 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

60. The medium as in claim 58, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes a least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

61. The medium as in claim 58 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

62. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

63. The medium as in claim 62 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone which receives the data representing the plurality of voicemails from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises a displayed list of metadata of the plurality of voicemails.

64. The medium as in claim 62 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

65. The medium as in claim 62, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

66. The medium as in claim 63 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers including a wireless local area network transceiver, and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

67. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of;

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

68. The medium as in claim 67 wherein the handheld personal computer has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has a display on one face of the handheld personal computer and wherein a touch input panel is integrated with the display and wherein the handheld personal computer comprises at least one of (a) a proximity sensor;

(b) an ambient light sensor;

(c) an accelerometer; and

(d) other sensors for sensing a user or user action, and wherein the first user interface displays the plurality of voicemails separately from emails.

69. The medium as in claim 68 wherein the voicemail system is controlled by a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the voicemail system records voicemails left for customers of the public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

70. The medium as in claim 69 wherein at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored, for local playback, on the handheld personal computer.

71. The medium as in claim 70 wherein the at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored automatically in response to connecting to the voicemail system.

72. The medium as in claim 70, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying, in response to the selection, a playback user interface which includes at least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

73. The medium as in claim 72, wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the handheld personal computer, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface.

74. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

75. The medium as in claim 74 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display of the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

76. The medium as in claim 75 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel; and

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

77. The medium as in claim 75, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection; and

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control;

and (f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

78. The medium as in claim 75, wherein the user interface of the plurality of voicemails comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers.

79. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

80. The medium as in claim 79 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and the first user interface comprises a displayed list of the metadata, and wherein the displayed list is displayed separately from emails, and wherein the order of metadata in the displayed list is based on the time of receipt of a voicemail and the selection may be in a different order.

81. The medium as in claim 79 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

82. The medium as in claim 80, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes a least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

83. The medium as in claim 80 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name being stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

84. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

85. The medium as in claim 84 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone which receives the data representing the plurality of voicemails from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the data representing the plurality of voicemails comprises a displayed list of metadata of the plurality of voicemails.

86. The medium as in claim 84 wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of:

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 8 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

87. The medium as in claim 84, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying a playback user interface which includes at least one of;

(a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

88. The medium as in claim 85 wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the first data processing system, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface, and wherein the first data processing system comprises at least two wireless transceivers including a wireless local area network transceiver, and wherein at least some of the voicemails are locally stored on the first data processing system.

89. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of (1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

90. The medium as in claim 89 wherein the handheld personal computer has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has a display on one face of the handheld personal computer and wherein a touch input panel is integrated with the display and wherein the handheld personal computer comprises at least one of (a) a proximity sensor;

(b) an ambient light sensor;

(c) an accelerometer; and

(d) other sensors for sensing a user or user action, and wherein the first user interface displays the plurality of voicemails separately from emails.

91. The medium as in claim 90 wherein the voicemail system is controlled by a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the voicemail system records voicemails left for customers of the public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

92. The medium as in claim 91 wherein at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored, for local playback, on the handheld personal computer.

93. The medium as in claim 92 wherein the at least some of the plurality of voicemails are locally stored automatically in response to connecting to the voicemail system.

94. The medium as in claim 92, wherein the method further comprises:

playing back a selected voicemail in response to the selection;

displaying, in response to the selection, a playback user interface which includes at least one of (a) a stop control;

(b) a pause control;

(c) a fast forward control;

(d) a play control;

(e) a reverse control; and

(f) a time line control which allows a user to select a playback start time along a time line.

95. The medium as in claim 94, wherein the first user interface comprises at least one name of a caller who left a voicemail, the caller'"'"'s name having been stored in association with a caller'"'"'s phone number in a database locally stored on the handheld personal computer, the caller'"'"'s phone number also being metadata in the data representing the voicemail and being used to retrieve the caller'"'"'s name for display in the first user interface.

96. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data to present, on the second data processing system, a user interface which is capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the second data processing system;

responding, by the first data processing system, to a selection from the user interface for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the second data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails.

97. The medium as in claim 96, wherein the first data processing system comprises a voicemail server which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier and wherein the user interface comprises a list of the plurality of voicemails on a display and wherein the voicemails are displayed separately from emails.

98. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

recording voicemails left for a customer of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data representing the voicemails left for the customer, the second data processing system presenting a user interface for selecting one of the voicemails in any order.

99. The medium as in claim 98 wherein the first data processing system records the voicemails and wherein the data representing the voicemails comprises metadata of the voicemails and wherein the user interface comprises a displayed list which displays voicemails separately from emails.

100. The medium as in claim 99, wherein the method further comprises:

responding, by the first data processing system, to a selecting from the user interface.

101. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

recording voicemails left for a user of a first data processing system;

transmitting, from a second data processing system to the first data processing system, data representing the voicemails, the data representing the voicemails being presented in a user interface which is configured to receive a selection of any one of the voicemails in any order and wherein the voicemails are presented separately from emails.

102. The medium as in claim 101, wherein the method further comprises:

responding, by the second data processing system, to a selection in the user interface.

103. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

means for receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails in the user interface.

104. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

means for receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

105. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

means for receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

106. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

means for receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of;

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

107. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the first data processing system which received the locally stored voicemails from a second data processing system;

means for receiving from the user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first data processing system being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

108. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

means for receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

109. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails which are presented separately from emails received by the first data processing system;

means for receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order.

110. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a voicemail system which records voicemails and plays back the voicemail;

means for receiving, from the first user interface, a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection in a non-serial order; and

wherein the first data processing system is a handheld personal computer having at least one input device comprising at least one of;

(1) a keyboard;

(2) a cursor control device;

(3) a touch input panel;

(4) a multi-touch input panel, and the handheld personal computer has a size in a first dimension of less than about 7.5 inches and a size in a second dimension of less than about 4 inches and a size in a third dimension of less than about 1.5 inches; and

wherein the handheld personal computer comprises a first wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless local area network and a second wireless transceiver for communicating through a wireless cellular telephone network which is coupled to the voicemail system.

111. A machine comprising:

means for transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data to present, on the second data processing system, a user interface which is capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails, at least some of the voicemails being stored locally on the second data processing system;

means for responding, by the first data processing system, to a selection from the user interface for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the second data processing system being configured to receive the selection, in any order, of any one of the plurality of voicemails.

112. A machine comprising:

means for recording voicemails left for a customer of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

means for transmitting, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, data representing the voicemails left for the customer, the second data processing system presenting a user interface for selecting one of the voicemails in any order.

113. A machine comprising:

means for recording voicemails left for a user of a first data processing system;

means for transmitting, from a second data processing system to the first data processing system, data representing the voicemails, the data representing the voicemails being presented in a user interface which is configured to receive a selection of any one of the voicemails in any order and wherein the voicemails are presented separately from emails.