Abstract: A superior data sending apparatus has an alternate forwarding function for the exchange of data by different receiving terminal models. A sender attempts to send a message to one of several receiving terminals carried by a receiver. When communication is not established under a predetermined condition, e.g., within a predetermined period of time, the sender then tries alternate message forwarding to another receiving terminal carried by the same receiver. Since alternate forwarding is automatically performed in accordance with alternate forwarding information registered in advance, no effort is required of a user. Even when the received data processing capability (e.g., the input available character size) differs between the originally designated receiving terminal and the alternate receiving terminal, the system changes the format of the contents of message or the size of the message to one that is adequate, so that an alternate, seamless forwarding can be implemented.