Methods and apparatus for providing messaging using voicemail

At least one processor configured to deliver a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the at least one processor comprising:

• a first module for accessing a voicemail account of a user of the wireless device;
• a second module for associating the user of the voicemail account of the wireless device with one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device for one or more social network services;
• a third module for receiving a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message, wherein the one or more contacts are selected by the user of the wireless device from a contacts data store for the user of the wireless device that is configured to access contact information for the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device;
• a fourth module for receiving the customized outgoing message;
• a fifth module for associating the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;
• a sixth module for determining that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message and that the at least one processor has access to a first voicemail message that is directed to the caller from the user of the wireless device and to which the caller has not yet listened;
• a seventh module for adding the first voicemail message to the customized outgoing message in response to the determination and for delivering the customized outgoing message with the first voicemail message to the caller;
• an eighth module for receiving, from the caller in response to the delivering of the customized outgoing message, a second voicemail message that is directed to the wireless device;
• and
• a ninth module for sharing the second voicemail message with the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device, wherein sharing the second voicemail message comprises one of uploading the second voicemail message to the one or more social network service accounts, posting a link to the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts, or presenting the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a server configured to deliver a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, cause the server to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

• at least one instruction for causing a computer to access a voicemail account of a user of the wireless device;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to associate the voicemail account of the user of the wireless device with one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device for one or more social network services;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message, wherein the one or more contacts are selected by the user of the wireless device from a contacts data store for the user of the wireless device that is configured to access contact information for the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive the customized outgoing message;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to associate the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message and that the server has access to a first voicemail message that is directed to the caller from the user of the wireless device and to which the caller has not yet listened;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to add the first voicemail message to the customized outgoing message in response to the determination and to deliver the customized outgoing message with the first voicemail message to the caller;
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive, from the caller in response to the delivering of the customized outgoing message, a second voicemail message that is directed to the wireless device;
• and
• at least one instruction for causing the computer to share the second voicemail message with the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device, wherein sharing the second voicemail message comprises one of uploading the second voicemail message to the one or more social network service accounts, posting a link to the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts, or presenting the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts.

An apparatus configured to deliver a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, comprising:

• means for accessing a voicemail account of a user of the wireless device;
• means for associating the voicemail account of the user of the wireless device with one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device for one or more social network services;
• means for receiving a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message, wherein the one or more contacts are selected by the user of the wireless device from a contacts data store for the user of the wireless device that is configured to access contact information for the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device;
• means for receiving the customized outgoing message;
• means for associating the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;
• means for determining that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message and that the apparatus has access to a first voicemail message that is directed to the caller from the user of the wireless device and to which the caller has not yet listened;
• means for adding the first voicemail message to the customized outgoing message in response to the determination;
• means for delivering the customized outgoing message with the first voicemail message to the caller;
• means for receiving, from the caller in response to the delivering of the customized outgoing message, a second voicemail message that is directed to the wireless device;
• and
• means for sharing the second voicemail message with the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device, wherein sharing the second voicemail message comprises one of uploading the second voicemail message to the one or more social network service accounts, posting a link to the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts, or presenting the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts.

An apparatus configured to deliver a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

• a voicemail service operable to:
• access a voicemail account associated with a user of the wireless device;
• associate the voicemail account of the user of the wireless device with one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device for one or more social network services;
• receive a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message and to receive the customized outgoing message, wherein the one or more contacts are selected by the user of the wireless device from a contacts data store for the user of the wireless device that is configured to access contact information for the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device;
• associate the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;
• determine that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message and that the apparatus has access to a first voicemail message that is directed to the caller from the user of the wireless device and to which the caller has not yet listened;
• add the first voicemail message to the customized outgoing message in response to the determination;
• and
• a player operable to deliver the customized outgoing message with the first voicemail message to the caller;
• wherein the voicemail service is further operable to receive, from the caller in response to the delivering of the customized outgoing message, a second voicemail message that is directed to the wireless device, and to share the second voicemail message with the one or more social network service accounts of the user of the wireless device, wherein sharing the second voicemail message comprises one of uploading the second voicemail message to the one or more social network service accounts, posting a link to the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts, or presenting the second voicemail message on the one or more social network service accounts.