There is provided a portable packet switched wireless voice messaging device capable of transmitting and receiving a digital voice signal. The device includes a microphone for inputting a voice message, an encoder for encoding the voice message, a memory for storing the encoded message, a data compressor with variable compression ratio for compressing the encoded message in accordance with a data compression mode selected by the user and a transmitting circuit for transmitting the compressed data with information indicating the mode selected. The device also includes a receiving circuit for receiving an incoming message data which has been compressed in a transmitting side, a detector for detecting the compression mode used in the transmitting side, a data decompressor for decompressing the incoming message data in accordance with the detected mode, a memory for storing the decompressed data, a decoder for decoding the decompressed data and a speaker for reproducing a voice message in accordance with the decoded voice message signal provided by the decoder. The user can select a data compression mode depending upon the importance of his voice message to be transmitted.