Abstract: A local entity without its own means of voice communication is provided with the semblance of having a voice interaction capability. This is done by providing a beacon device at or near the entity, the beacon device transmitting, over a short-range communication link, contact data identifying a voice service associated with, but hosted separately from, the entity. The transmitted contact data is picked up by equipment carried by a nearby person and used to contact the voice service over a wireless network. The person then interacts with the voice service, the latter acting as a voice proxy for the local entity. The contact data can be presented to the user in other ways, for example, by being inscribed on the local entity for scanning or user input into the equipment.

Abstract: A method is provided of enhancing communication between a user using a first device such as a cell phone, and a content server with which the user is interacting through a multimodal browser. The communication is managed as a session having one or more participants, the user being an initial participant to the session. The user, using the first device, passes on session joining information to a second device, for example a printer or display, and the second device uses the joining information to join the session. The multimodal browser then distributes content, including content references, from the content server to the devices in the session according to their capabilities.