Patent ID: 8649780

Claim:
A method for operating a wireless communication device, comprising: visually prompting a user to initiate a text session and receiving a text session request from the user including a called number; in response to the text session request, initiating the text session by placing a first call to a service node using a service node number, and transferring the called number to the service node over the first call, wherein the service node extends the text session by placing a second call to the called number; sending a first text message to the service node over the first call; receiving a second text message from the service node over the first call; and visually displaying the second text message to the user; wherein the service node is configured to: receive the first text message from the wireless communication device over the first call, translate the first text message to a first audio message, transmit the first audio message to the called number over the second call, receive a second audio message from the called number over the second call, translate the second audio message to the second text message, and transmit the second text message to the wireless communication device over the first call.