System and method for message delivery to a busy called party

1 . A method of routing a text message to a second destination associated with a called party where a first destination is unavailable comprising the steps of:

receiving a call to the first destination associated with a called party initiated by a calling party, wherein the first destination is unavailable;

based on the unavailability of the first destination, requesting a voice message from the calling party;

receiving the voice message provided by the calling party;

converting the voice message into a text message based on determining an appropriate text format required by the second destination; and

forwarding the text message to the second destination associated with the called party, wherein the second destination can be any one of a plurality of communications devices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication devices are capable of receiving text messages.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of communication devices can be any one of a paging device, a mobile telephone, an electronic mail device, a facsimile machine, a modem, or a computer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving additional information from the calling party.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additional information comprises routing information of the second destination associated with the called party.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additional information comprises an identification of the calling party.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the requesting step is performed in response to a Busy/No Answer trigger.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving routing information of the second destination from the called party.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of disconnecting the calling party after receiving the voice message provided by the calling party.

10 . (Canceled).

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a personal identification number, wherein the personal identification number determines which one of the plurality of alternate destinations comprises the second destination.

12 . A system for routing a text message to a second destination associated with a called party where a first destination is unavailable comprising:

a first switch for receiving a call to a first destination associated with a called party initiated by a calling party, wherein the first destination is unavailable;

a network element, coupled to the first switch, for requesting a voice message from the calling party based on the unavailability of the first destination and receiving the voice message provided by the calling party;

a voice recognition means, coupled to the network element, for converting the voice message to a text message based on determining an appropriate text format required by the second destination; and

a second switch, coupled to the network element, wherein the network element forwards the text message to a second destination associated with the called party via the second switch, wherein the second destination can be any one of a plurality of communications devices.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the network element comprises a service node.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the second destination is communication device capable of receiving text messages.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication device can be any one of a paging device, a mobile telephone, an electronic mail device, a facsimile machine, a modem, or a computer.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the network element further performs the function of receiving additional information from the calling party.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the additional information comprises an identification of the calling party.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the additional information comprises routing information of the second destination associated with the called party.

19 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a memory coupled to the network element, wherein the network element receives routing information of the second destination from the called party and stores the routing information in the memory.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the network element disconnecting disconnects the calling party after receiving the voice message provided by the calling party.

21 . (Canceled).