Apparatus and method for providing multimedia messaging between disparate messaging platforms

A method of interpreting an Internet address generated by a DTMF signal generator having an alphanumeric keypad, comprising the steps of:

• associating two successive selections of a "1" button on the keypad with a "." symbol;
• associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "2" button on the keypad, respectively, with an "@" symbol;
• and
• associating the successive selections of a "1" button and a "3" button on the keypad, respectively, with a ".com" symbol.

An apparatus for storing and forwarding messages, the apparatus comprising:

• a first network interface for interfacing with a first network;
• a second network interface for interfacing with a second network;
• means for receiving an incoming message and delivery information from said first network interface, said incoming message having a message content format of a first type;
• a converter for converting said incoming message having a message content format of a first type to a message having a message content format of a second type in response to said incoming message and said delivery information, said converter using said delivery information for selecting said message content format of a second type for said message;
• means for presenting said message having said message content format of a second type to at least one recipient specified in said delivery information, said message content format of a second type including a format where said message is stored in a location in memory, said location in memory pointed to by location information, said means for presenting having a means for creating a web page for presenting said incoming message;
• and
• wherein said delivery information includes a destination address, said destination address sent through a DTMF generator having a telephone keypad having a button signifying a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol, said symbols having a defined position on said button.

A system for receiving and sending messages, the system including at least a first messaging apparatus and a second messaging apparatus, each messaging apparatus comprising:

• a converter for converting an incoming message having a first format to a processed message having a delivery format, said converter converting said incoming message to said delivery format according to a format specified by delivery information provided by a user;
• a first network interface linked to said converter and a first network, said first network interface including a means for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said first network;
• a second network interface linked to said converter and a second network, said second network interface for transporting a message between said converter and at least one messaging interface linked to said second network;
• means for delivering said processed message through said first network or through said second network in response to said delivery information;
• wherein said first messaging apparatus is coupled to said second messaging apparatus through said first network;
• wherein said first network interface communicates with a telephone network, said first network interface having a messaging layer for interpreting a destination address generated by a DTMF signal generator, said destination address generated including a "." symbol, an "@" symbol, and a ".com" symbol;
• and
• wherein said destination address follows an Internet Domain Name System addressing scheme;
• and said DTMF signal generator includes a telephone keypad;
• said "." symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button on said telephone keypad;
• said "@" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "2" button, respectively;
• and
• said ".com" symbol generated by two successive DTMF signals with each signal corresponding to the "1" button and the "3" button, respectively.