Systems and methods are provided for embedding a sender's unique identification in a digital message, for providing additional communication data to a recipient device, and for controlling communications between the sender and multiple recipients and among those recipients depending on the sender's preferences, among other embodiments.

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for allowing a user to switch between interfacing with a service through a network or through short message service (SMS). A chat service is executed through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer. A request is received from the first computer to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using SMS instead of through the network using the first computer. The chat service is configured to interface with the mobile device through SMS, including communicating chat information through SMS to the first user's mobile device, and communicating control information through SMS to the first user's mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for allowing a user to switch between interfacing with a service through a network or through short message service (SMS). A chat service is executed through which a first user at a first computer can communicate directly with a second user at a second computer. A request is received from the first computer to enable the first user to interface with the chat service through a mobile device of the first user using SMS instead of through the network using the first computer. The chat service is configured to interface with the mobile device through SMS, including communicating chat information through SMS to the first user's mobile device, and communicating control information through SMS to the first user's mobile device such that the first user can control a full functionality of the chat service using SMS.

Systems and methods are provided for secure messaging with constrained user actions. An example method includes causing presentation of an interactive user interface, the interactive user interface enabling messaging with end users, each end user being associated with a respective phone number. Selection of a particular end user is received via the interaction user interface and the interactive user interface is updated to include a selectable option which triggers transmission of a standardized consent message to a particular phone number associated with the particular end user. A reply message is received from the particular phone number indicating the affirmative consent. The interactive user interface is updated, with the updated interactive user interface including an input portion configured to receive arbitrary information for transmission to the particular phone number.

Systems and methods are provided for secure messaging with constrained user actions. An example method includes causing presentation of an interactive user interface, the interactive user interface enabling messaging with end users, each end user being associated with a respective phone number. Selection of a particular end user is received via the interaction user interface and the interactive user interface is updated to include a selectable option which triggers transmission of a standardized consent message to a particular phone number associated with the particular end user. A reply message is received from the particular phone number indicating the affirmative consent. The interactive user interface is updated, with the updated interactive user interface including an input portion configured to receive arbitrary information for transmission to the particular phone number.

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide to receive a trigger to initiate a media session that is to be supported by a control channel and a media channel; generate a first Short Message Service (SMS) message, which includes a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message configured to initiate the media session, in response to the trigger; transmit, via non-access stratum as the control channel, the first SMS message that includes the first SIP message to a server via a mobility management entity, in response to the generation; determine whether a bearer for the media channel is already established; establish the bearer in response to a determination that the bearer is not already established; use the bearer as the media channel in response to the establishment; and use the bearer as the media channel in response to a determination that the bearer is already established.

A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium provide to receive a trigger to initiate a media session that is to be supported by a control channel and a media channel; generate a first Short Message Service (SMS) message, which includes a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message configured to initiate the media session, in response to the trigger; transmit, via non-access stratum as the control channel, the first SMS message that includes the first SIP message to a server via a mobility management entity, in response to the generation; determine whether a bearer for the media channel is already established; establish the bearer in response to a determination that the bearer is not already established; use the bearer as the media channel in response to the establishment; and use the bearer as the media channel in response to a determination that the bearer is already established.

A device with a display receives a first communication at the device while the device is in a locked state. In response to receiving the first communication at the device while the device is in the locked state, the device generates, for display in a respective user interface, a first notification for the first communication received at the device, wherein the first notification includes content in the first communication. While displaying the first notification in the respective user interface, the device receives information that indicates a sender of the first communication is preparing another communication. In response to receiving the information that indicates the sender of the first communication is preparing another communication, the device updates the displayed first notification in the respective user interface to concurrently display content in the first communication and a communication-preparation indicator that indicates preparation of another communication by the sender of the first communication.

The disclosed embodiments include computerized methods, systems, and devices, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating terms of a search query based on a user's spoken utterances, identifying multiple cross-platform messages based on the generated terms, and to generating, via a presentation device, a single interface that enables the user to interact with identified messages. Based on a spoken utterance, the disclosed embodiments may determine user-specified search terms and/or criteria, and based on the user-specified search terms and/or criteria, may obtain cross-platform message data that corresponds to the search query. The communications device may generate one or more interface elements that describe corresponding ones of the cross-platform messages, which may be presented within a unified graphical user interface or voice-user interface by a communications device.

The disclosed embodiments include computerized methods, systems, and devices, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating terms of a search query based on a user's spoken utterances, identifying multiple cross-platform messages based on the generated terms, and to generating, via a presentation device, a single interface that enables the user to interact with identified messages. Based on a spoken utterance, the disclosed embodiments may determine user-specified search terms and/or criteria, and based on the user-specified search terms and/or criteria, may obtain cross-platform message data that corresponds to the search query. The communications device may generate one or more interface elements that describe corresponding ones of the cross-platform messages, which may be presented within a unified graphical user interface or voice-user interface by a communications device.