Abstract: A method may comprise initiating the sending of first information representing a phone number of a first receiving mobile phone to a server of a packet switched message service (PSMS). According to a first response to the sending of the first information, the sending of an SMS message may be initiated to the first receiving mobile phone. Second information representing a phone number of a second receiving mobile phone may be sent to the server and a packet switched message to the second receiving mobile phone may be initiated. The packet switched message sent to the second receiving mobile phone may be sent via the PSMS. The packet switched message may be delivered to a plurality of receiving mobile wireless devices.

Abstract: A method performed by a mobile wireless device may comprise receiving an SMS message or an EMS message indicating a client program, when a phone number associated with the mobile wireless device is not associated with a subscriber of a service associated with the client program at the time of receiving the SMS message. The method may further comprise downloading the client program on the mobile wireless device and authenticating, via the client program, the phone number associated with the mobile wireless device to the service via SMS protocol. After the authenticating, the client program may cause transmission of first information comprising a first phone number. The client program may receive a first response to the transmission of the first information indicating that the first phone number is associated with a subscriber of the service.

Abstract: A method may be performed by a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages and transmits packet switched messages via a PSMS. The method may comprise sending first information representing a phone number of a first receiving mobile phone and receiving a first response to the sending of the first information. After the first response is received by the sending mobile phone, an SMS message may be sent to the first receiving mobile phone, based on the first response. Second information representing a phone number of a second receiving mobile phone may be sent by the sending mobile phone and a second response to the sending of the second information may be received. After the second response is received by the sending mobile phone, a message may be sent via a WLAN and the PSMS, to the second receiving mobile phone, based on the second response.

Abstract: A method may comprise initiating the sending of first information representing a phone number of a first receiving mobile phone to a server of a packet switched message service (PSMS). According to a first response to the sending of the first information, the sending of an SMS message may be initiated to the first receiving mobile phone. Second information representing a phone number of a second receiving mobile phone may be sent to the server and a packet switched message to the second receiving mobile phone may be initiated. The packet switched message sent to the second receiving mobile phone may be sent via the PSMS. The packet switched message may be delivered to a plurality of receiving mobile wireless devices.

Abstract: A method performed by a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages and packet switched messages may comprise: (a) retrieving a destination address of a message from the message; (b) sending information representing a phone number of a receiving mobile phone; (c) receiving a response to the sending of the information; and (d) based at least in part on the response, automatically selecting a bearer for the message. The bearer may be selected from a group including: an SMS bearer; a packet-switched message bearer supported by a cellular connection between the sending mobile phone and a cellular base station; and a packet-switched message bearer supported by a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection between the sending mobile phone and a WLAN base station.

Abstract: A method may be performed by a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages and transmits packet switched messages via a PSMS. The method may comprise sending first information representing a phone number of a first receiving mobile phone and receiving a first response to the sending of the first information. After the first response is received by the sending mobile phone, an SMS message may be sent to the first receiving mobile phone, based on the first response. Second information representing a phone number of a second receiving mobile phone may be sent by the sending mobile phone and a second response to the sending of the second information may be received. After the second response is received by the sending mobile phone, a message may be sent via a WLAN and the PSMS, to the second receiving mobile phone, based on the second response.

Abstract: A system may comprise a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages via a cellular network and packet switched messages via a PSMS and at least one server that supports the PSMS and maintains status information. The sending mobile phone may send a second message via a WLAN and via the PSMS, to a receiving mobile phone on a condition that an undelivered message threshold corresponding to the receiving mobile phone has not been exceeded.

Abstract: A system may comprise a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages via a cellular network and packet switched messages via a packet switched message service (PSMS) and at least one server that supports the PSMS, maintains status information and queues messages for later delivery.

Abstract: A system may comprise a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages via a cellular network and packet switched messages via a packet switched message service (PSMS) and at least one server that supports the PSMS, maintains status information and queues messages for later delivery.

Abstract: A system may comprise a sending mobile phone that transmits SMS messages via a cellular network and packet switched messages via a PSMS and at least one server that supports the PSMS and maintains status information. The sending mobile phone may send a second message via a WLAN and via the PSMS, to a receiving mobile phone on a condition that an undelivered message threshold corresponding to the receiving mobile phone has not been exceeded.

Abstract: A device may receive information indicating that a message to a content provider is to be transmitted from the device to the content provider via a server for receiving packet-switched messages. The device may format a first message in accordance with a message format of the server, based at least in part on the information indicating that a message to the content provider is to be transmitted from the device to the content provider via the server. The first message may be transmitted via a WLAN, to the content provider. A second message formatted in accordance with a message format of the server may be received, by the device from the content provider, based on an address corresponding to the device. The content provider may be unaware of the address corresponding to the device during at least a time period between which the first message is transmitted and the second message is received. The message format of the server is not an SMS message format, a MMS message format or an EMS message format.

Abstract: A device may receive information indicating that a message to a content provider is to be transmitted from the device to the content provider via a server for receiving packet-switched messages. The device may format a first message in accordance with a message format of the server, based at least in part on the information indicating that a message to the content provider is to be transmitted from the device to the content provider via the server. The first message may be transmitted via a WLAN, to the content provider. A second message formatted in accordance with a message format of the server may be received, by the device from the content provider, based on an address corresponding to the device. The content provider may be unaware of the address corresponding to the device during at least a time period between which the first message is transmitted and the second message is received. The message format of the server is not an SMS message format, a MMS message format or an EMS message format.

Abstract: A method may comprise downloading a message client subsequent to receiving an SMS message and authenticating a first mobile phone number to a service for transmitting and receiving packet switched messages via SMS protocol. The method may further comprise transmitting one or more requests including at least information to determine whether a third mobile phone number and a fourth mobile phone number correspond to subscribers of the service. A response may indicate that a third mobile phone number and a fourth mobile phone number correspond to subscribers of the service. A picture message may be transmitted to a third mobile wireless device and a fourth mobile wireless device in accordance with the response.

Abstract: A system may comprise at least one third party server that supports at least one third party content provider and an information storage device for storing capability information. The at least one third party server may be separate from at least one server that supports the service. When a packet-switched message is transmitted from a mobile wireless device of a subscriber to the at least one third party content provider, the at least one server that supports the service may not reveal a mobile phone number of the subscriber to the at least one third party content provider. The at least one third party server may receive the packet-switched message from the at least one server that supports the service with a mapping identifier that maps to the mobile phone number of the subscriber that transmitted the packet-switched message.

Abstract: A method may comprise receiving subscription messages from first, second and third mobile wireless devices. A first request may be received from the first mobile wireless device, that includes at least information corresponding to a second mobile phone number of the second mobile wireless device. A first response may be sent in response to the first request. During the time between receiving the first request and sending the first response, the second mobile wireless device may not be connected to the service. The method may further comprise receiving, via the service, a first message from the first mobile wireless device, in accordance with the first response. The first message may be for the second mobile wireless device. The first message may be queued on a server associated with the service.

Abstract: A method may comprise receiving subscription messages from first, second and third mobile wireless devices. A first request may be received from the first mobile wireless device, that includes at least information corresponding to a second mobile phone number of the second mobile wireless device. A first response may be sent in response to the first request. During the time between receiving the first request and sending the first response, the second mobile wireless device may not be connected to the service. The method may further comprise receiving, via the service, a first message from the first mobile wireless device, in accordance with the first response. The first message may be for the second mobile wireless device. The first message may be queued on a server associated with the service.

Abstract: A method may comprise downloading a message client on a first mobile wireless device and authenticating, via the message client and the first mobile wireless device, a first mobile phone number of the first mobile wireless device to a service for transmitting and receiving packet switched messages. The authenticating may be performed via an SMS protocol. The method may further comprise transmitting, after the authenticating, a request including at least information corresponding to a second mobile phone number of a second mobile wireless device, to determine whether the second mobile wireless device corresponds to a subscriber of the service. A response to the request may be received indicating that the second mobile wireless device corresponds to a subscriber of the service. A message format of the service may not be an SMS message format, a MMS message format or an EMS message format.

Abstract: A method may comprise downloading a message client subsequent to receiving an SMS message and authenticating a first mobile phone number to a service for transmitting and receiving packet switched messages via SMS protocol. The method may further comprise transmitting one or more requests including at least information to determine whether a third mobile phone number and a fourth mobile phone number correspond to subscribers of the service. A response may indicate that a third mobile phone number and a fourth mobile phone number correspond to subscribers of the service. A picture message may be transmitted to a third mobile wireless device and a fourth mobile wireless device in accordance with the response.

Abstract: A method may comprise receiving a first message formatted according to an SMS format, by a first mobile wireless device from a second mobile wireless device, via a mobile operator base station. The first mobile wireless device may subscribe to a service for transmitting and receiving packet switched messages, via the Internet and the mobile operator base station. The method may further comprise retrieving, by the first mobile wireless device, information corresponding to at least one mobile phone number of the second mobile wireless device and transmitting, by the first mobile wireless device, after the subscribing, a request including at least the information corresponding to the at least one mobile phone number of the second mobile wireless device, to determine whether the mobile wireless device corresponds to a subscriber of the service.

Abstract: A method may comprise downloading a message client on a first mobile wireless device and authenticating, via the message client and the first mobile wireless device, a first mobile phone number of the first mobile wireless device to a service for transmitting and receiving packet switched messages. The authenticating may be performed via an SMS protocol. The method may further comprise transmitting, after the authenticating, a request including at least information corresponding to a second mobile phone number of a second mobile wireless device, to determine whether the second mobile wireless device corresponds to a subscriber of the service. A response to the request may be received indicating that the second mobile wireless device corresponds to a subscriber of the service. A message format of the service may not be an SMS message format, a MMS message format or an EMS message format.