Patent ID: 8891748

Claim:
A method for providing a voice communication service between a first user and a second user who are communicating via a non-voice communication service by exchanging non-voice communications by way of a server in communication with said first and second users, said method comprising: receiving at said server, a first contact identifier of said first user from said first user; receiving at said server, a second contact identifier of said second user from said second user; receiving said non-voice communications in SMS messages from said first user and from said second user at said server; forwarding at said server said non-voice communications from said first or second user to said second or first user, in accordance with destination information in said non-voice communications without sharing said first and second contact identifiers between said first and second users; monitoring said non-voice communications at said server for a voice service request embedded in at least one of said SMS message; and upon detection of said voice service request, selectively initiating establishment of said voice communication service between said first and second users through said server, by contacting said first and second users using said first and second contact identifiers, respectively and selectively providing said second and first contact identifiers to said first and second users, respectively.