Patent ID: 7437412

Claim:
A method comprising: enabling a first user to log in using at least one of a plurality of communication devices; enabling a second user to log in using at least one of a plurality of communication devices; sending information indicating an address of the first user to a first server associated with the at least one communication device used by the first user to log in; sending information indicating an address of the second user to a second server associated with the at least one communication device used by the second user to log in, the second server being separated from the first server by at least one wide area network; retrieving, at the at least one communication device used by the first user to log in, a graphical icon information representing the second user from the first server; causing display of representations of a plurality of real-time communication types for the first user to select on a display associated with the at least one communication device used by the first user to log in; causing display of a graphical rolodex on a display of the communication device used by the first user to log in, the graphical rolodex having a scrollable listing of user identifiers of potential participants; causing display of a quick-dial panel on the display of the communication device used by the first user to log in, the quick-dial panel listing identifiers in the form of icons for potential participants for selection by the first user, the quick-dial panel having been previously created by the first user by selecting user identifiers of potential participants from the graphical rolodex, wherein at least one of the graphical rolodex and the quick-dial panel further comprises the retrieved graphical icon for the second user; allowing the first user to initiate real-time communication with the second user by selecting a user identifier for the second user from at least one of the graphical rolodex and the quick-dial panel; in response, querying the first server to obtain a current address information for the selected second user; using the address information to cause automatic establishing of real-time communication of a selected real-time communication type between the first and second users, wherein if the real-time communication type is selected by the first user from the plurality of displayed real-time communication types, the real-time communication is of the selected type, and if the real-time communication type is not selected by the first user, the real-time communication is of a default communication type; and detecting an incoming communication, from at least one communicating participant, at the communication device used by the first user to log in during an active communication with the second user; notifying the first user of the identity of at the at least one communicating participant; and providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming communication.