voice mail

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

voice mail
    n 1: a computerized system for answering and routing telephone
         calls; telephone messages can be recorded and stored and
         relayed [syn: {voice mail}, {voicemail}]

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

voice mail
phone mail

   <messaging, business> Any system for sending, storing and
   retrieving {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 {PIN}.  Members of a voice mail system can
   generally forward or {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)