Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.

Abstract: Linking multiple identities from a single service includes for a user of a single service having multiple identities within the single service, authenticating a primary identity having a first buddy list associated with an account, authenticating a secondary identity having a second buddy list associated with the account, and creating an association between the primary identity and the secondary identity, where the primary identity and the secondary identity simultaneously share a common graphical user interface such that the primary identity interacts with the first buddy list and the secondary identity interacts with the second buddy list using the common graphical user interface.

Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.

Abstract: A computer program or method provides away messages from a first user to other users of a communications system, where the first user has grouped the other users into two or more groups. An interface is provided to the first user that displays representations of the other users in a manner that identifies how the first user has grouped the other users into the groups. The first user is able to select a selected group from the groups using the interface. The first user also is able to set a group away message for the selected group using the interface. The group away message is sent to a second user that has been grouped in the selected group when the second user attempts to communicate with the first user using the communications system and the first user is offline.

Abstract: Communicating between electronic devices involves sending messages between the electronic devices. An original message having an original source indicator and an intended destination indicator identified is sent. A reply to that original message is sent by the recipient of the original message. The reply message has a reply source indicator and a reply destination indicator. A communication based on the reply message is sent. The communication based on the reply message has a reply source indicator that is the same as the intended destination indicator identified by the sender of the original message. In one example, a message is sent from computer operating an instant messaging program and forwarded to a mobile telephone. The reply sent from the mobile telephone is provided to the sender of the original message without revealing the telephone number of the mobile telephone to which the original instant message was forwarded.

Abstract: Communicating between electronic devices involves sending messages between the electronic devices. An original message having an original source indicator and an intended destination indicator identified is sent. A reply to that original message is sent by the recipient of the original message. The reply message has a reply source indicator and a reply destination indicator. A communication based on the reply message is sent. The communication based on the reply message has a reply source indicator that is the same as the intended destination indicator identified by the sender of the original message. In one example, a message is sent from computer operating an instant messaging program and forwarded to a mobile telephone. The reply sent from the mobile telephone is provided to the sender of the original message without revealing the telephone number of the mobile telephone to which the original instant message was forwarded.

Abstract: A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

Abstract: Communicating between electronic devices involves sending messages between the electronic devices. An original message having an original source indicator and an intended destination indicator identified is sent. A reply to that original message is sent by the recipient of the original message. The reply message has a reply source indicator and a reply destination indicator. A communication based on the reply message is sent. The communication based on the reply message has a reply source indicator that is the same as the intended destination indicator identified by the sender of the original message. In one example, a message is sent from computer operating an instant messaging program and forwarded to a mobile telephone. The reply sent from the mobile telephone is provided to the sender of the original message without revealing the telephone number of the mobile telephone to which the original instant message was forwarded.

Abstract: A computer program or method provides away messages from a first user to other users of a communications system, where the first user has grouped the other users into two or more groups. An interface is provided to the first user that displays representations of the other users in a manner that identifies how the first user has grouped the other users into the groups. The first user is able to select a selected group from the groups using the interface. The first user also is able to set a group away message for the selected group using the interface. The group away message is sent to a second user that has been grouped in the selected group when the second user attempts to communicate with the first user using the communications system and the first user is offline.

Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.

Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.

Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.

Abstract: Informing a viewer of a television program of the identity of other online identities that represent users concurrently viewing that same television program includes determining dynamically a first television program to which a television viewing device associated with a viewer is tuned and identifying one or more other viewers associated with television viewing devices that are presently tuned to the first television program. Trait information related to the viewer or to the other viewers is stored in a data store related to the first television program. A subset of the other viewers that have similar traits is determined based on the stored trait information. The viewer is graphically informed of the subset of other viewers.

Abstract: A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

Abstract: A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

Abstract: Notifying a user of multiple concurrent instant messaging sessions includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller and establishing the first instant messaging session in response to the first request. A second request is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request. A notification is communicated to at least the first instant messaging controller indicating the establishment of the second instant messaging session.

Abstract: Perception of a personalization item is enabled in an instant messaging communications session by rendering, on an instant message recipient system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message recipient and an instant message sender. An identifier that enables identification of a personalization item of an individual instant message user is obtained, and the identifier is associated with the personalization item. The personalization item is obtained independently of the message used to obtain the identifier, and the personalization item is rendered at the instant message recipient system.

Abstract: Perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session may be enabled by perceiving an identifier corresponding to an intended instant message recipient designated by an instant message sender system, accessing personalization items corresponding to the perceived identifier, and making perceivable the personalization items corresponding to the received identifier to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging sender system, where the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient.

Abstract: Perception of a personalization item in an instant messaging communications session may be enabled by perceiving an identifier corresponding to an intended instant message recipient designated by an instant message sender system, accessing personalization items corresponding to the perceived identifier, and making perceivable the personalization items corresponding to the received identifier to the instant messaging sender system for rendering in an instant messaging application running on the instant messaging sender system, where the personalization items are made perceivable prior to communication with the intended instant message recipient.

Abstract: Managing instant messages may include receiving instant messages created by or on behalf of one or more message sources for delivery to an intended recipient. From among the received instant messages, qualifying instant messages may be identified that satisfy a capture rule, and two or more of the qualifying instant messages may be captured. The intended recipient may be informed of the captured instant messages unobtrusively, and also may be enabled to manage the captured instant messages.