Abstract: A method for facilitating firewall and NAT traversal during social networking and/or content sharing via a mobile device uses an instant message protocol to establish a near real-time communications session between two user devices on opposite sides of the firewall or NAT enabled router. A first application on a mobile device provides social networking and/or content sharing. A second application on the mobile device establishes a communication session for exchanging near real-time messages between the mobile device and a second device over the firewall or NAT protected network. The second application is associated with the first application and allows the mobile device to access a file associated with the first application that is stored in the second device via the communication session.

Abstract: Sharing content via a mobile device includes creating a first list of content available for sharing and storing the list in a mobile device, creating a second list of contacts having content sharing permissions and storing the second list in the mobile device, and sharing the first list with a contact in the second list via a wireless network. Sharing the first list with a contact in the second list via a wireless network does not include the use of an intermediary content sharing server.