E-mail conversion service

A messaging system, comprising:

• an e-mail server configured to send an e-mail message for an intended recipient;
• a computer system including an e-mail client and a suite of software modules configured to process data files having respective compatible data file formats;
• a trigger responsive to a data file associated with said e-mail message and configured to provide an indication that a data format of the data file associated with said e-mail message is not one of said compatible data file formats;
• and
• a data file converter responsive to said trigger and configured to selectively convert the data file associated with said e-mail message into one of said compatible data file formats.

A method of operating a messaging system, comprising the steps of:

• storing a listing of compatible data file formats acceptable to an intended recipient of an e-mail message;
• receiving an e-mail message for an intended recipient;
• examining at least one file associated with said e-mail message to identify a data file format thereof;
• determining if said data file format of said at least one file is included in said listing of said compatible data file formats;
• transmitting, in response to said determining step, said at least one file to a remote conversion service;
• designating to said remote conversion service a desired one of said compatible data file format into which said at least one file is to be converted;
• converting said at least one file into said desired file format;
• and
• forwarding said file converted into said desired file format to said intended recipient.