A voicemail system utilizing a wireless handheld device with a suitable user interface for presenting voice messages and email messages is disclosed. Voice messages are received over a wireless network, and stored on the handheld device. Upon receipt of a voice message, the handheld device records the audio message in local memory. Subsequently a message record entry corresponding to the received audio message is displayed in a user interface screen of the handheld. When the user opens the displayed message record, the handheld device plays back the corresponding audio message stored in local memory.