A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, determine whether a user at a first client has a chat session already active at a second client with a third client in response to a request for initiation of a chat session for the user at the first client. If the user does already have a chat session active, the third client is notified that the first client replaces the second client in the chat session. Then chat data from the second client is copied to the first client, and a disconnect message is sent to the second client from first client. In various embodiments, the determination may be made by sending a query to a plurality of clients connected via a network or by sending a query to a server that serves the first client, the second client, and the third client. The copied chat data, which may include messages sent between the second client and the third client, is presented at the first client. In this way, chat sessions, including chat data previously set, may be moved between clients.

An application server component of an apparatus in one example receives one or more notifications of one or more open communication sessions from one or more first communication devices. The application server component sends one or more of the one or more notifications of one or more of the one or more open communication sessions to one or more second communication devices. Upon a request by a communication device of the one or more second communication devices to join an open communication session of the one or more of the one or more open communication sessions, the application server component initiates a connection of the communication device to the open communication session.

Methods and devices establish an area party line for telephone calls to provide a geographically based chat forum via a telephone. One method receives telephone calls at a local call station where the telephone calls may be landline calls from callers serviced by the local call station, wireless phone calls from users who are currently located in proximity to the local call station, and/or long distance calls from callers who have dialed into the local call station using an area code and exchange. Callers provide an indication of an area party line, such as a star code, and the local call station bridges the calls together. Another method receives telephone calls at a central call station, where the telephone calls are directed to the central call bridging station from a local call station, and the central call bridging station bridges the callers together depending upon the local call station that the calls are transferred from. The callers may be local callers, long distance callers, or wireless callers to the local call station.

This invention provides a method for conducting a non-real time group interaction, employing a programmable voice messaging system, such as a voice message board, for storing and replaying messages from facilitators and group members. The invention provides a method for communication in rounds of discussion, whereby facilitators leave a first message and group members listen to and optionally respond to that message. The facilitators then listen to the members' responses and optionally create additional messages or optionally edit the members' messages, to guide and control the discussion. The cycle of facilitators listening, optionally responding, optionally editing followed by group members listening and optionally responding can be repeated multiple times. Also provided is a voice note pad means for users of the instant invention, whereby users can interrupt the stream of voice messages and create a new, private voice note pad message, and optionally later listen to or edit their voice note pad messages.