Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms are provided that allow participants in an electronic messaging conversation (e.g. email or instant message) to retrieve information related to words and phrases in the electronic messaging conversation without leaving the electronic messaging environment. An electronic messaging environment is provided that includes user interface tools that allow a user to (1) select text within the EM conversation, (2) submit the text to an information retrieval service, such as a search engine, and (3) display the results generated by the information retrieval service. To facilitate the selection of relevant text, certain “suggested words” within the conversation may automatically be highlighted by the instant messaging client. Various techniques are provided for customizing which words are suggested, which sources are searched, and which search terms are used.

Abstract: Two-way communication between a general purpose computing device, such as a PC, and a mobile terminal, such as a cell phone. The general device executes a conversation user interface through which a user enters a message. The message is sent to an intermediary communication service, such as a portal server, along with a mobile terminal identifier, such as a phone number. The intermediary service creates a mapping between the mobile identifier, a general device user identifier, and an extension to an intermediary device identifier, such as an extension to an SMS short code. The intermediary service sends the message to the mobile terminal along with the intermediary service identifier and the extension. The mobile device returns a response with the mobile identifier, the intermediary service identifier, and the extension. The intermediary service uses the mobile identifier and the extension to determine the general device user identifier and send the response.

Abstract: Enabling a user of a device, such as a wired or wireless device, that is associated with a telephone number to communicate text messages with another user of another device that is not associated with a telephone number (or the telephone number is unknown to the sender). Although the other user's telephone number is not known or does not exist, the other user is associated with a user identifier for a user community that is assigned a Common Short Code (CSC). The text message includes a source telephone number (sender/user's device telephone number) and a destination number (the CSC for the other user/recipient's user community). The content of the text message includes a user identifier, where the identifier indicates the particular other user within the user community. A server employs the CSC to determine the user community and the identifier to determine the particular user in the determined community that is the intended recipient of the text message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method is directed towards managing a quick registration of a mobile device over a network. The quick registration is directed at enabling an end-user to conveniently register a mobile device to be useable for such communications sessions, as an instant messaging (IM) session, and the like. The invention employs a pre-determined extension to a short code that instructs a server to register the mobile device sending the message. The message includes an account identifier along with a password to the account. The message may be a single message line, thereby providing a quick and convenient mechanism for registering the mobile device. The server receives the message along with a mobile device identifier, and stores a mapping relationship between the account identifier and the mobile device identifier after validating the password. In one embodiment, the message includes a command that the mobile device also be logged into an IM session.

Abstract: A system and method are directed towards providing a user interface for controlling a communication mode of a client device. The interface enables a user to set a presence and/or a communications mode, which the client device communicates to other devices directly or via an intermediary server. The presence generally reflects the user's availability, communication capability, desire to communicate, and the like. The presence can be directly or indirectly associated with the communication mode, which can comprise SMS, IM, email voice, and the like. The interface includes a contact list an enables the user to select a mode to communicate with a contact. The communication modes associated with each contact can also be incorporated into and displayed in an email address book. The interface also indicates the communication mode of each incoming and outgoing message in conversations with one or more other client devices.

Abstract: A system and method are directed towards managing interoperability between disparate IM networks. A clearinghouse server is provided that receives IM messages from disparate IM networks. The clearinghouse server examines the IM message to determine it is in a compatible protocol for a destination IM network. If the IM message is incompatible a translation service is used to translate the message into a compatible protocol. The translation service further determines if the destination IM network supports a feature employed by the received IM message. If the feature is supported or can be translated to a supported feature, the translation service will also perform the feature translation. Otherwise, the translation service may return an error message indicating that the received IM message includes an unsupported feature for the destination IM network. Upon satisfactory translation, the clearinghouse server forwards the translated IM message towards the destination IM network.