A speech message recording and reproducing method and apparatus wherein a speech message associated with a facsimile transmission is stored in a communication apparatus having an automatic answering telephone apparatus associated with a facsimile apparatus. Information of the speech apparatus including at least a storage address thereof is converted to an optical pattern for printing on a recording paper. The printed optical pattern is optically detected, interpreted and transmitted by radio communication to the communication apparatus and the speech message stored at the storage address is reproduced. The optical pattern is read by a reader forming part of a portable telephone unit.