System and method for addressing a unique device from a common address book

A computing device adapted for addressing a unique device from an address book stored in a memory comprising:

• a communications subsystem configured to receive a message including a public user identity and an instance identifier for the unique device;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is configured to:
• determine that the public user identity exists within the address book and the instance identifier does not exist within the address book, store the instance identifier against the public user identity in said address book;
• associate tokens identifying device capabilities against the instance identifier;
• wherein the instance identifier is selected from the group consisting of:
• a medium access control address, an international mobile equipment identity, an electronic serial number, and a personal identification number.

A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable data structure embodied therein, said computer readable data structure comprising:

• a contact card, the contact card comprising an instance identifier field, the instance identifier field uniquely identifying a device;
• a device identifier nickname field;
• a device capabilities field, the device capabilities field identifying the capabilities of the device;
• and a contact properties field,
• wherein the instance identifier field or device identifier nickname field provide an address book with a relationship between a public user identity and the device.