Abstract: A buddy-based, cross-carrier mobile phone based text messaging server, system and method is disclosed. A table of subscribers cross referenced against buddy subscribers who have opted in to receive text messages (SMS) is maintained. Where a recipient subscriber is not yet registered as a buddy subscriber, the server sends a message asking if the recipient subscriber wants to become a buddy subscriber of the sending subscriber. If the recipient subscriber opts-in, the recipient subscriber is added to the table as a buddy subscriber, and thereafter will be forwarded all messages through the service, sent from the particular sending subscriber, until the buddy subscriber opts-out. The invention ensures a near one to one correspondence of in/out SMS for participating mobile phone networks, and avoids any one network being overloaded with spam messaging.

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: A buddy-based, cross-carrier mobile phone based text messaging server, system and method is disclosed. A table of subscribers cross referenced against buddy subscribers who have opted in to receive text messages (SMS) is maintained. Where a recipient subscriber is not yet registered as a buddy subscriber, the server sends a message asking if the recipient subscriber wants to become a buddy subscriber of the sending subscriber. If the recipient subscriber opts-in, the recipient subscriber is added to the table as a buddy subscriber, and thereafter will be forwarded all messages through the service, sent from the particular sending subscriber, until the buddy subscriber opts-out. The invention ensures a near one to one correspondence of in/out SMS for participating mobile phone networks, and avoids any one network being overloaded with spam messaging.

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).