Enhanced buddy list using mobile device identifiers

Abstract

A graphical user interface on a display device of a computer enables communications using a computer service. The graphical user interface includes a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user. The graphical user interface also includes a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients and a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients. At least one of the listed potential recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer program product that, when executed, generates a graphical user interface on a display device for using a computer service to communicate, the graphical user interface comprising:
 a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user;   a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients; and   a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients,   wherein at least one of the listed potential message recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein the computer service includes an instant messaging computer service and the list reflects presence information for each of the listed potential message recipients identified by the user account identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device identifier comprises a mobile telephone number. 
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein:
 the mobile device identifier is a name linked to a mobile telephone number, and 
 the name is not a user account identifier. 
 
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device identifier comprises a text messaging address associated with a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein mobile device identifier and the user account identifier are addresses for communication inspired through interaction with the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface comprises an instant message display for a reply message received in reply to an original message sent to one of the listed potential message recipients, wherein:
 the instant message display includes a sender address of the reply message, and 
 the sender address of the reply message is hidden if the sender address is different from a destination address specified in the original message to which the reply message is sent. 
 
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the listed potential message recipients that includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit also has associated with the graphical user interface other information related to the potential message recipient. 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the other information includes an alias for the mobile device identifier. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the other information includes street address information. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the other information includes telephone number information. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the other information enables communication of data independent of the computer service. 
     
     
         13 . A graphical user interface configured for presentation on a display device and comprising:
 a list of potential message recipients selected by a user as significant to the user;   a mobile device identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients; and   a user account identifier associated with one or more of the listed potential message recipients,   wherein at least one of the listed potential message recipients includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit for data delivery to the potential message recipient using the computer service.   
     
     
         14 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein the computer service includes an instant messaging computer service and the list reflects presence information for each of the listed potential message recipients identified by the user account identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein the mobile device identifier comprises a mobile telephone number. 
     
     
         16 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein:
 the mobile device identifier is a name linked to a mobile telephone number, and 
 the name is not a user account identifier. 
 
     
     
         17 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein the mobile device identifier comprises a text messaging address associated with a mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein mobile device identifier and the user account identifier are addresses for communication inspired through interaction with the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         19 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  further comprising an instant message display for a reply message received in reply to an original message sent to one of the listed potential message recipients, wherein:
 the instant message display includes a sender address of the reply message, and 
 the sender address of the reply message is hidden if the sender address is different from a destination address specified in the original message to which the reply message is sent. 
 
     
     
         20 . The graphical user interface of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the listed potential message recipients that includes a mobile device identifier as the only available conduit also has associated with the graphical user interface other information related to the potential message recipient.