1. A computer-implemented voice mail method, comprising: obtaining an electronic audio file of a recorded user message directed to a telephone user; automatically generating a transcript of the recorded user message; identifying locations in the transcript in coordination with timestamps in the recorded user message so that successive portions of the transcript can be highlighted in coordination with playing of the recorded user message; identifying one or characteristics of the message using meta data relating to the recorded user message; and storing the recorded user message and information about the identified locations of the recorded user message.