Systems and methods for unified messaging are described herein. In an embodiment, a repository server includes a message store. According to one method implemented by the repository server, a voice message is sent as part of an email message. In an embodiment, preprocessing is performed before sending the email, including but not limited to inserting information, data, links, voice mail audio files, and voice mail transcriptions in the email. A copy of the preprocessed email is stored in the message store with an authentication key. The authentication key is used, for example by a recipient of the email, to access voice mail audio files that may not be accessible on the recipient's device.