Ambient communication session

A first computing device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• receiving at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session via a communication application that enables communication between different computing devices;
• initiating the communication session in an inactive mode of operation in response to receiving the at least one signal, wherein the inactive mode comprises executing the communication application in a background of the first computing device;
• executing another application in a foreground of the first computing device while the communication session is in the inactive mode;
• receiving a request from a second computing device to participate in the communication session;
• and
• switching the communication session from the inactive mode of operation to an active mode of operation in response to receiving the request, wherein the first and second computing devices are joined to the communication session in the active mode.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a first computing device, cause the first computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving at least one signal indicating that a user is available to participate in a communication session via a communication application that enables communication between different computing devices;
• initiating the communication session in an inactive mode of operation in response to receiving the at least one signal, wherein the inactive mode comprises executing the communication application in a background of the first computing device;
• executing another application in a foreground of the first computing device while the communication session is in the inactive mode;
• receiving a request from a second computing device to participate in the communication session;
• and
• switching the communication session from the inactive mode of operation to an active mode of operation in response to receiving the request, wherein the first and second computing devices are joined to the communication session in the active mode.