System and method for redirecting data to a wireless device over a plurality of communication paths

A method of routing data from a host system to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes two wireless components, a first wireless component for transmitting and receiving data messages and a second wireless component for transmitting and receiving voice calls, the method comprising:

• providing a short-range wireless network having a first coverage area;
• providing a long-range wireless network having a second coverage area which overlaps with and is larger than the first coverage area;
• determining whether the mobile device is within the first coverage area;
• if the mobile device is within the first coverage area, then routing data received at the host system for a user of the mobile device to the mobile device via the short-range wireless network;
• if the mobile device is not within the first coverage area, then routing data received at the host system for a user of the mobile device to the mobile device via the long-range wireless network,
• wherein the short-range wireless network includes a plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks, each short-range wireless sub-network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for communicating with a short-range RF transceiver of the mobile communication device;
• routing voice calls received at the host system to the second wireless component of the mobile device;
• routing data messages received at the host system to the first wireless component of the mobile device;
• and
• upon detecting that the second wireless component is connected to the first wireless component, routing voice calls from the host system to a voice mail system account associated with the user of the mobile device.

A system for redirecting data to a mobile device via a long-range wireless network and a short-range wireless network, the mobile device having a long-range transceiver and a short-range transceiver, the system comprising:

• a redirector program for receiving data associated with a user of the mobile device and for redirecting the received data to the mobile device;
• and
• a component configured to determine whether the mobile device is within a coverage area of the short-range wireless network, and if so, to instruct the redirector program to redirect the received data to the mobile device via the short-range wireless network, and if not, to instruct the redirector program to redirect the received data to the mobile device via the long-range wireless network,
• wherein the short-range wireless network includes a plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks, each short-range wireless sub-network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for communicating with the short-range transceiver of the mobile communication device, and further wherein the plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks comprise office-specific sub-networks that are connected via a virtual private network.