A method for operating a telephone server includes receiving an incoming call
from
a caller, coupling the incoming call to a voice mail server, coupling the incoming
call to a voice mail mailbox with the voice mail server, receiving a request from
the caller to initiate an outbound call, saving a state of the voice mail server
in response to the request, receiving dialing instructions from the caller, processing
the dialing instructions to make the outbound call, and restoring the state of
the voice mail server after the outbound call is terminated.
