Customized presence information delivery

A system for providing presence information comprising:

• a) a packet-switched network;
• and
• b) a control system operatively associated with the packet-switched network and adapted to:
• i) receive state information bearing on the availability of a user from a plurality of devices;
• ii) evaluate the state information with a plurality of presence rules to create presence information for each of a plurality of categories;
• and
• iii) send the presence information to a plurality of presence applications, which are associated with the plurality of categories,
• wherein different views of presence for the user are created and delivered to the presence applications based on an associated category.

A computer readable medium comprising instructions for instructing a computer to:

• a) receive state information bearing on the availability of a user;
• b) evaluate the state information with a plurality of presence rules to create presence information for each of a plurality of categories;
• and
• c) send the presence information to a plurality of presence applications, which are associated with the plurality of categories,
• wherein different views of presence for the user are created and delivered to the presence applications based on an associated category.