Abstract

A telecommunications device for transmitting or receiving E-mail across telephone lines without requiring the use of a conventional computer or a service provider for access to an E-mail account is provided. In a preferred embodiment, at the transmission location, the telecommunications device receives a message at a communications port from a personal data assistant device by an infrared link. Thereafter, the message is coupled to a modem circuit for modulation over the telephone line. The E-mail is routed to a reception location according to a phone number and, upon arrival at the reception location, is routed to or answered by another telecommunications device by means of an identifier emplaced in the caller identification packet. Acknowledgment indicators are also provided to display a status of the message. In another preferred embodiment, the message is input directly into the telecommunications device by means of a graffiti screen integrated therein. The telecommunications device may be integrated into or isolated from an existing telephone. In another embodiment, the telecommunications device may be a bi-directional pager.