Audiotex means the output of computer data vocally, frequently remotely by telephone. The use of the name audiotex is to allow people to distinguish this offering from the other speech technologies like voice messaging even though the hardware (and even software) may be exactly the same. Many of the customers for Ferranti voice messaging systems had a requirement for recorded announcements of changing information eg the name and phone number of the on call engineer at a plant, the plat du jour in a hotel etc. The 'billboard1 mailbox is a standard feature on Ferranti voice messaging systems and as you can see from the examples has many applications.