1. A method comprising the steps of: receiving a notification from a voicemail server, wherein the notification comprises attributes associated with an incoming message intended for a voice mailbox subscriber of the voicemail server and a voice mailbox identification associated with the voice mailbox subscriber; mapping the voice mailbox identification to an instant messaging identification of an instant messaging client, wherein the voice mailbox subscriber and the instant messaging client are a common entity; querying a presence of the instant messaging client using the instant messaging identification; and forwarding the notification to the instant messaging client if the instant messaging client is available.