Apparatii and methods for providing texting services to voice grade telephone numbers

Abstract

Apparatii to facilitate texting to both textable and non-textable telephone numbers may include a user interface module, a destination verification module, a destination selection module and a routing module. The user interface module may render a map or a list on an electronic display that includes contact information for one or more entities. The destination verification module may use the contact information to access a texting registry to determine if an entity has a texting address. In response to determining that a texting address is available for an entity, the user interface module may display a textable indicator proximate to contact information for the entity. Similarly, information from a destination field of a text message may be used to retrieve a texting address from the texting registry and route the email message to the texting address. Methods corresponding to the apparatii are also disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to facilitate texting, the method comprising:
 displaying a map to a user on an electronic display, the map comprising a plurality of graphical indicators for a plurality of entities;   wherein a placement of the graphical indicators on the map substantially corresponds to actual locations for the entities; and   wherein the graphical indicators comprise a textable indicator for entities having a texting address.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing a registry to determine if an entity has a texting address. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the texting address is selected from the group consisting of a textable telephone number and an electronic messaging address. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a text message input interface in response to selection of a texting interface element. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a text message from the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising delivering the text message to the texting address. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textable indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a symbol, a graphic, a display character, and a sequence of display characters. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus to facilitate texting, the apparatus comprising:
 a user interface module configured to render a map on an electronic display, the map comprising a plurality of graphical indicators for a plurality of entities;   wherein a placement of the graphical indicators on the map substantially corresponds to actual locations for the entities; and   wherein the graphical indicators comprise a textable indicator for entities having a texting address.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a destination verification module configured to access a texting registry to determine if an entity has a texting address. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the texting address is selected from the group consisting of a textable telephone number and an electronic messaging address. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a texting interface module configured to provide a text message input interface to a user in response to selection of a texting interface element. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a routing module configured to a receiving a text message from the user and deliver the text message to the texting address. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the textable indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a symbol, a graphic, a display character, and a sequence of display characters. 
     
     
         14 . A method to facilitate texting, the method comprising:
 displaying a list of entities to a user on an electronic display;   displaying at least one textable indicator on the electronic display proximate to listings for entities having a texting address; and   activating a text messaging interface in response to user selection of a texting interface element.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising accessing a registry to determine if an entity has a texting address. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the texting address is selected from the group consisting of a textable telephone number and an electronic messaging address. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus to facilitate texting, the apparatus comprising:
 a user interface module configured to display a list of entities to a user on an electronic display;   the user interface module further configured to display at least one textable indicator on the electronic display proximate to listings for entities having a texting address; and   the user interface module further configured to activate a text messaging interface in response to user selection of a texting interface element.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a destination verification module configured to access a registry to determine if an entity has a texting address. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the texting address is selected from the group consisting of a textable telephone number and an electronic messaging address. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the textable indicator is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a symbol, a graphic, a display character, and a sequence of display characters.