Method and system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. A method for receiving electronic mails on a feature phone includes receiving a text message on the feature phone in response to a first electronic mail. The method also includes calling a telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to an audio clip of the first electronic mail and providing a voice input as a response to the first electronic mail. The system includes a feature phone that receives a plurality of electronic mails. The system also includes one or more electronic devices, and a communication interface in electronic communication with the feature phone and the one or more electronic devices. The system further includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor responsive to the instructions to receive a text message in response to an electronic mail transmitted by an electronic mail user.

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

A method for communicating location information to a device includes receiving, at a computer system that implements a social networking service, location information that represents a geographic location of a device associated with a first user; associating, by the computer system, the received location information with a profile associated with the first user; and sending, from the computer system to a device associated with a second user, a message that is generated based at least in part on the location information.

A method for communicating location information to a device includes receiving, at a computer system that implements a social networking service, location information that represents a geographic location of a device associated with a first user; associating, by the computer system, the received location information with a profile associated with the first user; and sending, from the computer system to a device associated with a second user, a message that is generated based at least in part on the location information.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for selecting and initiating playing of audio conversations on mobile computing devices. For example, a method comprises determining a first user accesses a mobile application on a mobile device associated with the first user; selecting an audio conversation for the first user, wherein the audio conversation involves at least a second user, wherein the audio conversation is selected for the first user based on at least one of first user information associated with the first user, second user information associated with the second user, or conversation information associated with the audio conversation; and initiating playing of the audio conversation on the mobile application on the mobile device.

Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for a voice communication service to forward communications to a secondary service. In one implementation, a method of operating a group communication service that facilitates voice communications for a group of end user devices includes exchanging voice communications between the group of end user devices, wherein the group of end user devices comprises a first end user device and at least one secondary end user device. The method further provides identifying, in a voice communication from the first end user device, a use of a key phrase and, in response to identifying the key phrase, forwarding at least a portion of the voice communication to a second service.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a speaker pool. A method includes receiving electronic consent from a plurality of speakers over an interface with a third party for the speakers to join a speaker pool. A method includes receiving criteria for selecting one or more speakers from a speaker pool from a third party via a hook in an interface. A method includes electronically displaying a selected one or more speakers from a speaker pool to a visitor of a third party using a hook in an interface based on received criteria.

Disclosed embodiments provide improved communication between a caller and multiple parties. A caller performs a call spray operation on a group of contacts using an electronic communication device such as a mobile telephone. The call spray operation attempts to contact an electronic device associated with each contact in the group of contacts. If one of the contacts answers and is deemed to be a live user, then the remaining contacts that did not answer each receive a message on their associated electronic device indicating which of the contacts answered the caller with a live user. In this way, a group of people can be conveniently contacted and kept up to date with the status of the communication with the caller.

In one aspect, a method for talkburst initiator selection of talkgroup participants is provided. A selection application may receive, from an initiator of a group call destined for a talkgroup, a talkburst associated with a set of rules. The set of rules may specify criteria for selection of participants of the talkgroup that should receive the talkburst. It may be determined which members of the talkgroup satisfy the criteria specified by the set of rules. The talkburst may be sent, wherein only talkgroup members that satisfy the criteria specified by the set of rule output the talkburst.

Techniques for facilitating messaging in a group-based communication system between a calling device and one or more client devices. A first user operating a calling device may send a request to a call server computing device to send a call-based communication via the group-based communication system. The call-based communication may include voice or textual data. The call server computing device may receive the call-based communication and may format the call-based communication to send to the group-based communication system. The call server may send the formatted call-based communication to the group-based communication system for presentation via the one or more client devices.