Each server that performs an application role is capable of handling calls and recording a message. Directory information and user greetings are cached within each application role to provide a smooth experience to external callers. When a message is left, the message is initially cached within the local application role before being forwarded through a connector (AxC) to the appropriate message store. The AxC that the storage role provisions can communicate with each supported message store type.
When a user logs on to Messaging to retrieve messages, a definitive list of messages is fetched from the message store through the AxC. If the audio part of the message is available in the local cache then this part is used to play back the message, otherwise the audio part is also retrieved from the message store using the AxC.