SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DATA IN A MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT

摘要

In the field of electronic messaging, a method is provided in which enhanced information regarding an "availability" of a user of a handheld electronic device is provided to another electronic device in a messaging environment over a second communications band. Such availability data provides step-wise indications of the relative availabilities of one or more users of electronic devices in a messaging environment. The step-wise indications can, for instance, range from an availability level of 'currently active' to several levels of nonavailability. The device and method can be incorporated into an existing messaging environment.