A system, method, and computer program product for managing e-mail and real-time messaging activity between a first client and a second client. In accordance with one embodiment, the method includes the first or second client detecting an n.sup.th e-mail thread response to an original e-mail message delivered between the first client and second client, wherein n is greater than or equal to one. In response to detecting occurrence of an n.sup.th e-mail thread response, a real-time electronic messaging session is invoked between the first and second clients. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the first client sends a real-time message to the second client during a real-time messaging session between the first and second clients. In response to a specified real-time messaging session termination event, an e-mail message containing the sent real-time message is sent to the second client.
