Service provider model for real-time services

In a client system that supports a real-time electronic communication activity with a contact through one or more service providers, the one or more service providers each having separate user interfaces, the contact having at least one real-time communication address that corresponds to a particular service provider, a method of selecting an appropriate service provider for a given real-time electronic communication activity with the contact using a single user interface, the method comprising the steps for:

• requesting a real-time electronic communication activity directed to a contact, wherein said contact has at least one real-time address for at least one real-time electronic communication activity;
• determining which of one or more service providers support said requested real-time electronic communication activity for said contact to which a real-time electronic communication activity is directed;
• producing a subset of the one or more service providers determined to support said requested real-time electronic communication activity;
• and
• using said subset to select at least one service provider for at least one real-time electronic communication activity for said contact, without a user having to select said at least one service provider prior to initiating said at least one real-time electronic communication activity.

In a computerized system that supports a real-time electronic communication activity with a contact through one or more service providers, the one or more service providers each having separate user interfaces, the contact having at least one real-time communication address that corresponds to a particular service provider, a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for selecting an appropriate service provider for a given real-time electronic communication activity with the contact through a single user interface, the instructions comprising the acts of:

• receiving a request for a real-time electronic communication activity directed to a contact, wherein said contact has at least one real-time address for at least one real-time electronic communication activity;
• inquiring of one or more service provider whether each provider supports said at least one real-time communication activity with said contact;
• for identifying a subset of the one or more service providers that support said requested real-time electronic communication activity with said contact;
• and
• selecting from said subset a service provider for said real-time electronic communication activity with said contact, without a user having to select said service provider prior to initiating said real-time electronic communication with said contact.

In a computerized system that supports a real-time electronic communication activity with a contact through one or more service providers, the one or more service providers each having separate user interfaces, the contact having at least one real-time communication address that corresponds to a particular service provider, a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium carrying instructions for selecting an appropriate service provider for a given real-time electronic communication activity with the contact using a single user interface, the instructions comprising the steps for:

• requesting a real-time electronic communication activity directed to a contact, wherein said contacts has at least one real-time address for at least one real-time electronic communication activity;
• determining which of one or more service providers support said requested real-time electronic communication activity for said contact to which a real-time electronic communication activity is directed;
• producing a subset of the one or more service providers determined to support said requested real-time electronic communication activity;
• and
• using said subset to select at least one service provider for at least one real-time electronic communication activity for said contact, without a user having to select said at least one service provider prior to initiating said at least one real-time electronic communication activity.