A communications device is disclosed. The communications device comprises a memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions to receive data representing a message provided by a caller, determine at least an attribute of the message based on the received data, generate one or more options based on the attribute of the message, and present the one or more options to the caller to prompt the caller to take an additional action related to the message.

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.

A system and method for transforming a voicemail message into a chat session between a first party and a second party. The method comprises receiving, at a remote server, a voice message from the first party which is destined for the second party. The server transcribes the voice message, which involves transforming the voice message into a text. The server then initiates the chat session between the first party and the second party, by sending the text and audio as a multi-media instant message (IM) to the first party and to the second party. The IM appears as an outgoing message on a first computing device associated with the first party, and as an incoming message on a second computing device associated with the second party.

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.

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.

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for receiving, modifying and transmitting electronic communications. In one or more embodiments, the invention comprises a method performed by a server computer system that receives communications addressed to e-mail addresses created by the server computer system for recipients from senders having existing e-mail addresses. The server system creates modified e-mail messages by removing the sender's existing e-mail address and inserting an e-mail address created by the server computer system for that sender, wherein the created e-mail address identifies a name of the sender. The server computer system then transmits the modified e-mail message to an existing e-mail address of the recipient.

A subscriber to a universal point of contact service designates a preferred point of contact at which a communication initiator, such as a telephone caller, can contact the subscriber. Such an initiator desiring to contact the subscriber uses the subscriber's email address to establish a communication session with a device associated with the subscriber's preferred point of contact. The subscriber's email address is input to an initiating device, preferably a telephone or facsimile machine, using an entry device capable of entering an email address. A requestor unit, receiving the email address, locates a repository of the subscriber's point of contact information, and requests that information. The repository sends the point of contact information the subscriber has designated as preferred, and the requestor unit uses that information to control a telephone switch to establish a communication session between the initiating device and the subscriber's preferred point of contact device.

A method for transferring information from a sender to a recipient during a telephone call between a sender communication apparatus and a recipient communication apparatus is provided. The method comprises detecting, by the recipient communication apparatus, that the recipient is subjected to a noisy environment; converting a voice message, originating from the senders voice and recorded by the sender communication apparatus, into a text message; and displaying, at a display of the recipient communication apparatus, the text message to the recipient.

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.

A computer-implemented system and method for delivering group messages is provided. Users signed on to a discussion group that is associated with a discussion group ID are identified. One of the signed-on users is designated as a moderator. A voice message is received and the discussion group ID is extracted from the voice message. The voice message is provided to the moderator and further provided to the signed-on users in the discussion group upon acceptance of the voice message by the moderator.