Patent ID: 7974877

Claim:
A computer-storage medium containing computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method of sending an electronic business card to a receiving address, comprising: providing one or more electronic business cards for an electronic contact file in one or more electronic contacts repositories, the electronic business card structured and schematized to be consumed and rendered by a plurality of applications, wherein each of the one or more electronic business cards includes a prescribed layout and one or more contact data elements of the associated business card, and wherein the one or more prescribed layouts are defined by one of: a custom design; and a template that defines the positioning of contact data elements on the electronic business card, the background color of the electronic business card, and the font size of text on the electronic business card, wherein the template is selected from a plurality of templates; receiving a request to compose an electronic mail message; displaying a form for the electronic mail message in an electronic mail message user interface; receiving text in the form for the electronic mail message; breaking at least a first portion of the text into one or more individual words; comparing at least the individual words of the first portion of the received text to the one or more contact data elements; determining that at least one of the individual words of the first portion of the received text matches at least a first contact data element; highlighting the at least one individual word of the first portion of the received text in the electronic mail message user interface; receiving a selection of the highlighted at least one individual word of the first portion of the received text; in response to receiving the selection of the highlighted at least one individual word of the first portion, inserting a first electronic business card associated with the first contact data element into the electronic mail message; transmitting the electronic mail message including the text and the first electronic business card to the receiving address.