Methods and apparatuses for communications between a wearable device, a headset that can be attached to and detached from the wearable device, and a communications device. The wearable device detects when a user detaches the headset and establishes a Bluetooth connection between the headset and the wearable device or between the headset and another communications device.

The present disclosure is an incoming call management method, which includes: receiving a call request sent by a calling terminal; determining whether the calling number is stored in an address book corresponding to the called number; if the calling number is stored in the address book, sending the call request to a first called terminal corresponding to the called number to connect to the incoming call; if the calling number is not stored in the address book, configuring the calling terminal to play a preset voice interaction prompt, receiving a voice message sent by the calling terminal; and sending the voice message and the calling number to the first called terminal. The present disclosure also provides an incoming call management apparatus. The present disclosure can initially identify the calling number through voice message including a calling user attribute and an incoming call reason, so as to improve the user experience.

A mobile device having phoning capabilities also include capabilities to optionally reduce an operating load on a centralized mobile carrier voicemail system. The user of the mobile device is presented with a notification of an incoming call and is provided with an opportunity to answer the call in a traditional fashion, to optionally engage the centralized mobile carrier voicemail system, or to instead have the mobile device manage options relating to locally obtaining a voicemail from a maker of the incoming call. When the mobile device manages obtaining a voicemail from the maker of the incoming call, the voicemail is originally obtained and is stored locally, without use of centralized carrier resources at the time of recording the voicemail, and the mobile device can also play the recorded voicemail at any time without use of the centralized carrier resources.

Video communications between multiple computer systems configured to transmit and receive video content. A client transmitter is enabled to transmit a video message for display on the client recipient. The client transmitter is configured to transmit or record the video message to the video server. The video message is archived by the video server. When the client recipient is unavailable during the beginning of the transmission of the video message and when the client recipient is available later during the transmission of the video message, the client recipient is enabled to display the video message from the beginning of the video message while the transmission of the video message is still ongoing.

Video communications between multiple computer systems configured to transmit and receive video content. A client transmitter is enabled to transmit a video message for display on the client recipient. The client transmitter is configured to transmit or record the video message to the video server. The video message is archived by the video server. When the client recipient is unavailable during the beginning of the transmission of the video message and when the client recipient is available later during the transmission of the video message, the client recipient is enabled to display the video message from the beginning of the video message while the transmission of the video message is still ongoing.

A method for accessing offline voicemail messages within a mobile messaging application may be provided. First, a voice mail message may be received and the voicemail message may be transcribed to text. Next, the voicemail message and the text transcription may be stored. The recipient may then be presented with a list of voicemail messages and the voicemail message may be retrieved in response to the recipient. The recipient may read or listen to the voicemail message or both. The recipient may also annotate the voicemail message.

A method for accessing offline voicemail messages within a mobile messaging application may be provided. First, a voice mail message may be received and the voicemail message may be transcribed to text. Next, the voicemail message and the text transcription may be stored. The recipient may then be presented with a list of voicemail messages and the voicemail message may be retrieved in response to the recipient. The recipient may read or listen to the voicemail message or both. The recipient may also annotate the voicemail message.

Techniques are disclosed for responding to a pre-recorded inbound voice message in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In a first communication device, a pre-recorded inbound voice message is received from a sender communication device via a communication server. A reply mode is set for a response voice message from a plurality of reply modes. The response voice message is recorded and a reply mode flag is inserted into a message header. The response voice message is then sent to the communication server where it determines the reply mode. When the reply mode is reply to all, the response voice message is sent to the sender communication device and other recipient communication devices. When the reply mode is reply to sender, a direct channel communication link is established between the first communication device and the sender communication device and the response voice message is sent directly to the sender communication device.

Techniques are disclosed for responding to a pre-recorded inbound voice message in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In a first communication device, a pre-recorded inbound voice message is received from a sender communication device via a communication server. A reply mode is set for a response voice message from a plurality of reply modes. The response voice message is recorded and a reply mode flag is inserted into a message header. The response voice message is then sent to the communication server where it determines the reply mode. When the reply mode is reply to all, the response voice message is sent to the sender communication device and other recipient communication devices. When the reply mode is reply to sender, a direct channel communication link is established between the first communication device and the sender communication device and the response voice message is sent directly to the sender communication device.

Briefly, a variety of embodiments, including the following, are described: a system embodiment and methods that allow random access to voice messages, in contrast to sequential access in existing system embodiments; a system embodiment and methods that allow for the optional use of voice recognition to enhance usability; and a system embodiment and methods that apply to the area of voicemail.