Patent ID: 8320943

Claim:
A method for adding a new instant messaging contact to a contact list to enable instant messaging between a first mobile device and another mobile device associated with said new instant messaging contact, said instant messaging using personal identification numbers to enable instant messages to be sent between mobile devices, said method comprising: providing a first option on said first mobile device for adding said new instant messaging contact without requiring an initial exchange with said other mobile device; determining if said first mobile device and said new instant messaging contact are from a same organization; and when said first mobile device and said new instant messaging contact are determined to be from said same organization: upon sensing selection of said first option, enabling entry of one or more characters for identifying said new instant messaging contact; providing a second option on said first mobile device for initiating a lookup using said one or more characters; upon sensing selection of said second option, providing said one or more characters in performance of said lookup to a host system associated with said same organization; obtaining from said host system, a result list for said lookup indicating each match to said one or more characters and including information pertaining to each match, said information for at least one match comprising a respective personal identification number for a corresponding mobile device; if said new instant messaging contact is in said result list, enabling selection of said new instant messaging contact from said result list and obtaining said respective personal identification number for said corresponding mobile device after detecting selection thereof; adding said new instant messaging contact to said contact list; and sending an instant message directly to said new instant messaging contact via a personal identification number based messaging protocol using said respective personal identification number.