Patent ID: 8160213

Claim:
A method comprising: recording an audio recording on a first data processing system; initiating a telephone call between a second user and a third user via the Public Switched Telephone System; transmitting the audio recording via a first instant messaging client on the first data processing system to the second user via a second instant messaging client on a second data processing system; playing the audio recording for the second user via the second data processing system while the second user is engaged with the telephone call with the third user; transmitting the audio recording via the first instant messaging client on the first data processing system to a third user via a third instant messaging client on a third data processing system; when the third user accepts the audio recording in the third instant messaging client, playing the audio recording for the third user via the third data processing system; and when the third user fails to accept the audio recording in the third instant messaging client, transmitting the audio recording to a voice mailbox associated with the third user.