Method, system and apparatus for messaging between wireless mobile terminals and networked computers

A messaging system, comprising:

• a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network for communicating with a networked computer using a push-to-talk mode;
• a networked computer for communicating over a packet network with the wireless mobile terminal using a push-to-talk mode;
• and
• a server, communicating over the packet network, for forwarding messages between the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer.

A method of messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer, comprising:

• starting a client on a device selected from the group consisting of the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;
• the client sending a login message to a server located outside of the wireless carrier network and communicating with the client by way of a packet network;
• the server establishing a communication session with the client in response to. receiving the login message;
• at the device, selecting one or more recipients for a message, the recipients including the other device from the group consisting of the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;
• sending the message to the server by way of the packet network using a push-to-talk function provided by the client;
• and
• the server selectively forwarding the message to the recipients or storing the message, based on the respective availability of each of the recipients.

A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for permitting messaging between a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network and a networked computer on a packet network, comprising:

• program code means for establishing a communication session with a server for communicating with the wireless mobile terminal and networked computer by way of a packet network;
• program code means for presenting a user interface for composing a text message;
• program code means for recording a voice message;
• program code means for presenting a user interface for selecting one or more message recipients, the message recipients including a recipient selected from the group consisting of the wireless mobile terminal and the networked computer;
• program code means for sending the voice message to the server for delivery to the message recipients;
• and
• program code means for sending the text message to the server for delivery to the message recipients.

A wireless mobile terminal for operating on a wireless carrier network, comprising:

• a memory for storing program code;
• a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, for executing the program code;
• program code stored in the memory for establishing a communication session with a server capable of forwarding messages to a networked computer by way of a packet network;
• program code stored in the memory for recording a voice message;
• program code stored in the memory for presenting a user interface for selecting one or more message recipients, the message recipients including the networked computer;
• and
• program code stored in the memory for sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the message recipients.

A networked device for operating on a wired packet network, comprising:

• a network interface;
• a memory for storing program code;
• a processor, operatively coupled to the memory and the network interface, for executing the program code;
• program code stored in the memory for establishing a communication session with a server through the network interface, the server being capable of forwarding messages to a wireless mobile terminal operating on a wireless carrier network;
• program code stored in the memory for recording a voice message;
• program code stored in the memory for presenting a user interface for selecting one or more message recipients, the message recipients including the wireless mobile terminal;
• and
• program code stored in the memory for sending the voice message as streaming voice to the server for delivery to the message recipients.