Abstract: The present invention a method by which the sender of an instant message can designate an alternate recipient of the message in the event the initial recipient does not respond to the message within a predetermined time period. The sender can create a list of one or more alternate recipients for a message. The sender can also specify a response time for the message. If the initial recipient does not response to the message within the defined time period, the message will be sent to a designated alternate recipient. In this invention, there can be multiple alternate recipients. Each alternate can receive the message or there can be a priority among the alternate recipients.