Abstract: A system (140) that delivers messages receives a message intended for the receiving party. The system (140) determines whether the message should be delivered to the receiving party and converts the message to an audible message when the message should be delivered to the receiving party. The system (140) then initiates a telephony call to the receiving party and delivers the audible message to the receiving party during the telephony call.

Abstract: A system and method can enable a user of a communications network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless and/or voice over IP network to participate in Presence Availability Management (PAM) and Instant Messaging (IM) activities of a PAM/IM network. In response to phone network triggers, a phone network Service Control Point (SCP) can generate requests to a web server. The web server can translate the requests to presence information that can be forwarded to presence user agents for participants of the PAM/IM network. The presence user agents can present the user's presence information to participants having the user on their “buddy list”.

Abstract: A device is provided including a processor and a display configured to list more than one presence enabled contact. A user agent is configured to indicate an availability status of the device to a presence server. The user agent is at least partially executed by the processor. Moreover, at least one input is configured to enable a device user to request a communications session with at least one of the plurality of presence enabled contacts. The request is initiated by the user agent when the requested presence enabled contact is available.

Abstract: Groups of consenting users such as families can track where other members of the same group are under agreed upon access arrangements. The locating system can operate in a passive mode. Users do not have to actively sign-in or check-in to the locating system for the locating system to obtain individual location determination estimates. The locating system collects communications device usage information from a plurality of communications networks, e.g., landline, cellular, Wi-Fi, DSL. The locations of communication devices and infrastructure are known. Members of locating groups are associated with various communication devices detected are being used. Approximate locations of an individual member or members of a locating group are inferred from detected device usage information. A location report is generated, e.g., in a map, table, or audio format, indicating the determined location of individuals, and optionally including time tags. The report is provided to authorized members of the locating group.