System and method for integrating audio and visual messaging

The present invention provides a communication system for integrating audio and visual messaging. The communication system includes a mobile communication device (140, 145) for receiving visual messages and for transmitting voice messages to a recipient (105), a base station system (125, 130) in communication with the mobile communication device (140, 145), an electronic mail gateway (117, 115) for delivering visual messages to the base station system (125, 130) for transmission to the mobile communication device (140, 145). The integrated mail gateway (150) is programmed to create an e-mail message comprising the voice message. The integrated mail gateway (150) is also programmed to use the addressing information to address the e-mail message, and to send the addressed e-mail to the recipient (105).