To assist with the usability of voice messaging systems, a technique is provided that provides audible information to a user about the status of one or more messages in the system. An audible message is played to the user indicating whether they have forwarded, replied, saved, or otherwise addressed a voice message. The audible indication can be triggered by the message recipient trying to reply, forward or otherwise access a message in the voice messaging system. This can be especially useful when the voice messaging system is accessed from a phone, such as an IP telephone or SIP phone. The technique at least allows users to know which voice messages they have addressed as well as to provide a summary of one or more messages in the voice messaging system such as 3 unread, 2 replied, 1 forwarded, and a total of 12 messages with message duration of 11 minutes.