Patent ID: 8271024

Claim:
A method comprising: a) receiving, at a messaging service node, a first messaging service message directed to a dual-mode terminal from a messaging center in accordance with a messaging service protocol, wherein the dual-mode terminal is able to facilitate communications via a terminal adaptor which supports local wireless communications including a packet-based session over a data access network or via a cellular-based wireless network; b) determining, at the messaging service node, whether to send the first messaging service message via the local wireless communications or via the cellular-based wireless network by determining that the dual-mode terminal is operatively coupled to the terminal adaptor; c) routing, from the messaging service node, the first messaging service message to the dual-mode terminal via the terminal adaptor, when the dual-mode terminal is operatively coupled to the terminal adaptor; d) receiving, at the messaging service node, a second messaging service message from the dual-mode terminal and changing a destination address of the second messaging service message with the dual-mode terminal to an address associated with the messaging service node and inserting the destination address in the second messaging service message prior to the second messaging service message being sent; and e) routing the second messaging service message from the messaging service node to an intended destination.