Systems and methods for electronic distribution of messages over communication channels

A system for electronically distributing messages over communication channels, the system comprising:

• at least one database stored on a memory, the database storing instructions for operating a single input field and transmitting messages over a plurality of different communication channels, wherein the plurality of different communication channels comprise email, short message service (SMS), text messaging, instant messaging (IM), and social network messaging;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the database, the processor executing the instructions to:
• display to a user, over a network, the single input field defining a common area for entering messages, identifying one or more recipients, and selecting a communication channel, wherein the single input field is implemented as an SMS interface on a mobile device;
• receive from the user, and over the network, entries into the single input field via a touchscreen interface of the mobile device, the entries including a text-based message, multimedia files for sharing, an identification of a plurality of recipients, and a selection of one of the plurality of different communication channels, wherein the single input field includes icons representative of the plurality of recipients or different communication channels, wherein a first drop-down menu appears for providing the user with the selection of different communication channels when the user first engages the input field, wherein a second drop-down menu is displayed for providing the user with a selection of available recipients for the selected communication channel once the user has selected the communication channel and started typing one or more recipient names into the input field, wherein the input field is modified to display instructions to the user to type a message that the user desires to send after the selection of the selected communication channel and available recipients;
• display the second drop-down menu with the recipient list that shows whether the potential IM recipients are online and available for IM messaging, or offline and unavailable for IM messaging when the user has selected IM as the selected communications channel, wherein when the user proceeds with IM messaging for a recipient who is offline, the input field automatically switches to either email or SMS text messaging;
• provide, based on the received entries, a plurality of user interface functions in the single input field, by which the user can switch between communication channels, add or remove recipients, and add or remove text in the message, wherein the user interface functions require selection of one or more icons;
• determine whether an identifier is stored in relation to each of the plurality of recipients for the selected communication channel, wherein, if an identifier is not stored in relation to a recipient for the selected communication channel, the at least one processor is configured to:
• transmit an error message to the user;
• request, via the single input field, the selection of an alternative communication channel;
• and
• request for the selected communication, via the single input field, entry of a suitable address, phone number, or unique ID for the recipient for which such an identifier is not already stored in the database;
• and
• electronically send, to each of the plurality of recipients with the identifier, the message via the selected communication channel.