Unifying Web And Phone Presence

A computer-implemented communication management method, comprising:

• obtaining, at a computer system, a plurality of different contact identifiers for a computer account holder, wherein the contact identifiers represent mechanisms for contacting the computer account holder by a plurality of different communication modes that each define a form of communication that is distinct from the other communication modes;
• identifying a handle for the account holder, wherein the handle is associated with a uniform resource locator;
• and
• correlating the handle with the plurality of contact identifiers, and storing information for carrying out a rule for selecting a current preferred contact identifier indicated by the account holder in response to receipt of the handle from a third party user of a communication device that is remote from the computer system.

A computer-implemented communication system for identifying contact identifiers for an account holder:

• an interface to obtain a first and second contact identifier for a computer account holder, wherein the first contact identifier is used to establish a verbal communication with the account holder and the second contact identifier is used to establish a textual communication with the account holder;
• an account manager to identify a handle for the account holder, wherein the handle is associated with a uniform resource locator;
• and
• a correlator to correlate the handle with the first and second contact identifiers, and to select one of the first and second contact identifiers, based on a preference of the account holder, for creating a communication session between a device of the account holder and a device that submits the handle.

A computer-implemented communication system for assisting in forming communication sessions, comprising;

• an interface to receive a handle from a user of a computing device, wherein the handle is associated with a uniform resource locator;
• a central database associating a group of contact identifiers for an account holder to the uniform resource locator, wherein the contact identifiers differ from each other and include contact identifiers for a plurality of different modes of communication, including a telephone mode and an electronic mail mode;
• and
• a communication mode selector to receive a mode indicator and one or more contact identifiers from the database and to select a current preferred contact identifier for the account holder for connecting a third party for communication with the account holder in response to a submission of the handle by the third party.