ion. VPIM works like this: You record a message and enter a directory look-up to a public elec- tronic directory, using LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) to find the e-mail address assigned for voice messages for that individual. Your system converts the voice message to a MIME (Multipur- pose Internet Mail Extension) attachment and routes the message through the internet using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The message is delivered to the voice messaging system supporting the target tele- phone number, where it is converted back into a voice message and stored in the recipient's voice mailbox. The recipient can respond in the same fashion. - Definition Compliments of Newton's Telecom Dictionary is a more efficient method of Voice Mail networking than hav- ing one system dial up another at regular intervals. As Voice Mail messages are now being introduced to the com- puter networks (LANs and WANs), the capability to network Voice Mail is taking on new dimensions. Voice Mail Service Bureaus Voice Mail service bureaus are usually small companies who have installed Voice Mail systems on their own premises. They The Telecom Handbook - 109 VOICE MAIL & AUTOMATED ATTENDANT rent individual Voice Mailboxes on these systems to subscribers for a monthly fee. Many of the traditional live telephone answer- ing service companies have changed completely or in part to Voice Mail service bureaus. Users of the service bureau may call forward their office telephone numbers to their own unique telephone number (usu- ally a Direct Inward Dial number) at the service bureau. Or, if they want all callers to always reach Voice Mail, they may just give out that telephone number as their business number. Ser- vice bureaus can also provide individual 800 numbers with a service called DNIS (Dialed Number Identification Service), which is provided to them by a long distance telecommunica- tions service provider. Many Voice Mail service bureaus offer the same features as an in-house system, including: message recording; revi