A mobile social networking platform integrates SMS (
text messaging) services with
Instant Messaging services so that cross-platform messages can be sent, e.g., text-to-IM and IM-to-text. In response to a
text message sent by a user, an integration
server prompts a corresponding IM message to be sent to the recipient. In one embodiment the integration
server prompts transmission of the IM by
logging into the user's IM account or accounts. An instant message corresponding to the
text message is then sent to the recipient designated by the user via the user's IM account. After prompting transmission of the instant messages by the associated service, the integration
server logs-off from the user's IM account or accounts. In an alternative embodiment the integration server itself generates the IM. In order to send an IM to
text message a user logs onto an IM
client, selects the integration server from a buddy
list, composes the message for a particular group, then sends the message to the integration server. The integration server receives message and, based on the message content and the sender, the integration server identifies at least one of the user's ‘groups’ to which the message is to be sent. The group may comprise all subscribers of a group via IM, text and / or email. If a designated recipient is logged-in to the integration server via
mobile phone, a corresponding text message is delivered to that
mobile phone.