<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001024657</issuerCik><issuerName>WEST CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WSTC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001185539</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BARKER THOMAS B</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>WEST CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>11808 MIRACLE HILLS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>68154</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23.3500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>23.4700</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>23.3500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3967.2700</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock Units will be settled upon the earlier of January 1, 2010 or upon the reporting person's termination of employment.  Securities will be converted to common stock on a one-for-one basis.  NOTE:  50% match (7.78 shares) vest 20% per year for five years pursuant to West Corporation's Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Thomas B. Barker</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

