Return with us to the late 1960's, as Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" is about to change the way we think about long distance communication. Enter Smith-Corona, putting the typewriter business aside to solve the problem of high priced long distance telephone calls. For the record, I saw more of the 3.5 inch reels of 1/4 inch tape headed for the post office than these cartridge-based "voice mail" items.
I also recall seeing Compact Cassette mailers for very long-winded "messages from home.";)
Bonus: The Bacon Express!