Abstract: The invention provides a system for adjusting the amount of data bandwidth provided to a mobile device comprising a bandwidth adjustment facilitator arranged to receive a request from the mobile device for adjusting the amount of data bandwidth; a bandwidth throttler in communication with the bandwidth adjustment facilitator; the bandwidth throttler adapted to cap or allocate excess available data bandwidth to the mobile device; wherein on receipt of the request, the bandwidth adjustment facilitator process the request and if the request is successfully processed, adjusts the data bandwidth provided to the mobile device via the bandwidth throttler. The system may further be adapted for billing/charging based on either pay-per-specified-time model or pay per action model. The invention is conveniently suited for use in telecommunications system and does not require modifications to be made to existing telecommunications system.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is a system (10) for facilitating communications between two parties comprising a first party (12) having positive credit with a communication facilitator (16) and a second party (14) having insufficient credit with the communications facilitator (16) to initiate or continue communication. The first party (12) sends a first communication message (26) to a first destination address (18) associated with the communication facilitator (16). The communication facilitator (16) includes the first communication message (18), or at least a portion thereof, in a second communication message (28) which is sent to the second party (14) via a second destination address (22).

Abstract: An instant messaging system and a method of instant messaging between a plurality of clients having IM applications of the same or different types. The IM system includes a plurality of clients having IM client applications of the following types: a PC-based instant messaging client application program (101, 301); a GSM device (104, 303) forming part of a GSM network; an internet browser-based client application 201, 305; and an email-based client application (208, 307). An IM system host (141, 211, 316) including an IM server (143, 217, 311) is selectively connected to each of the clients via the direct electronic links or the internet (117, 213, 309) and provides a prescribed range of functionality to the clients. This functionality includes sending an IM, receiving an IM and identifying which members of a group of clients that a client is a member, or prospective member, of are online.

Abstract: A method of conveying information between a wireless communication device (13a) and a computer (15) providing a messaging service comprising sending a message from the wireless communication device (13a) to said computer (15), the message including an address for the computer (15), and receiving the communication at the computer (15). The address is formed by combining an Access Code (AC) uniquely identifying the computer and a Unique Identification Code (UIC) signifying; (i) a prescribed action to be performed by the computer (15); and (ii) an entity that is the subject of the prescribed action. At least one character of the address is common to both the Access Code and the Unique identification Code and the address is arranged such that said at least one common character is unified within the address such that the number of characters in the address string is less than the total number of characters in the Access Code and the Unique Identification Code.

Abstract: A system and a method for establishing or specifying the online status of a user forming part of an instant messaging system. The IM system includes clients having IM client applications, an IM server, and a user information database that is selectively connected to the clients via the internet. The user database stores an activity status for each user's activity with the IM server system. The activity status includes: (i) a time variable signifying the time of or time since the last prescribed involvement with the IM server; and (ii) a probability variable signifying the likelihood of the user still being online. Monitoring means is provided to continuously monitor user activity with said IM server and to continuously update the activity status of users stored on the database. Checking means is also provided to check the activity status of each user stored on the database and adjust said probability variable.