1. A voice mail system (VMS) for communicating with a telephone switch to assist in displaying a VMS softkey template on a telephone display of a telephone, the telephone switch configured for transmitting a DR packet when an incoming call is received from the telephone, transmitting an AC packet containing an action code when an action is taken by a user of the telephone, receiving a DS packet containing a VMS softkey template number identifying a VMS softkey template, and displaying the VMS softkey template on the telephone display in accordance with the VMS softkey template number, the VMS comprising: a processor programmed for receiving the DR packet identifying the incoming call, receiving the AC packet containing the action code of the action taken by the user, and transmitting the DS packet containing the VMS softkey template number of the VMS softkey template to be displayed.