Information retrieval system and method

A method of providing electronic mail notification to a communications device, comprising:

• associating an electronic mail account with a first phone number;
• calling said first phone number from a communications device;
• and
• providing said electronic mail message to said communications device after said communications device calls the first phone number.

A method of providing information to a remotely located, portable communication device, comprising:

• correlating at least one information unit represented by a text message maintained by a database system with a first phone number of an information retrieval system and a second phone number of a remotely located, portable communication device;
• calling said first phone number with said remotely located, portable communication device, wherein said information retrieval system having said first phone number identifies said portable communication device using said second phone number;
• establishing and terminating said call to said first phone number;
• retrieving said at least one information unit from said database system using said information retrieval system;
• and
• providing said information to said portable communication device using said second phone number.

A method of providing database access, comprising:

• associating a first piece of information with a first communications device identifier in a system;
• detecting a first communications device identifier when said first communications device is used to contact said system;
• retrieving said first piece of information in response to detection of said first communications device identifier;
• and
• transmitting said first piece of information to said first communications device following retrieval of said first piece of information.