The present invention relates to EWI (email waiting indication) queries of a mail
server (MS) in a packet-switched network (IPNET) via a PSTN terminal device (TEL). The subscriber to the EWI service requests EWI information by entering a service access code (SAC(E.164)) at the PSTN terminal device. The subscriber's input provides a trigger for the generation of an EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) in an internode module (INM). The EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) is dispatched to an
application server (EWIS), adapted for transmission over the packet-switched network (IPNET) and processed by the
application server (EWIS). Upon
processing of the EWI request (rq(aid, E.164, iauth, adEWIS)) the
application server (EWIS) directs an EWI query (qu(uid, PW, adMS, adEWIS)) to the mail
server (MS). The present invention provides an EWI service that is largely independent of providers and network equipment, requires no add-ons at the endpoints, i.e. PSTN terminal device (TEL) and mail
server (MS), and avoids multiple access interference.