Apple wants to make it easier to initiate a business messaging system, according to a newly granted patent.
About the patent
The paint relates generally to business messaging, including initiating a business messaging session. In the patent Apple notes that the amount of data transmitted for SMS (short message service) messages has been limited by rules established by the carriers. Recently, as the use of smartphones and tablet computers has increased, the messaging systems have developed the ability to send images, such as photos or emojis or videos.
In addition, messaging systems have allowed users to also send and receive text and images through “public” networks which include “public” WiFi access points (e.g., at airports, coffee shops, etc.) and the Internet (in addition to using a wireless carrier’s cellular telephone network).
Apple’s patent relates to messaging systems such as text messaging systems or “chat” messaging systems or other systems that allow devices to communicate messages between the devices.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A device implementing a system for initiating a business messaging session includes at least one processors configured to receive a selection of a telephone number on a device. The at least one processor is further configured to transmit an encoded identifier corresponding to the telephone number to a server. Then at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the telephone number is registered for a business messaging system based at least in part on a response received from the server.
“The at least one processor is further configured to provide a first display element for initiating communication with the telephone number via the business messaging system when the telephone number is registered for the business messaging system, otherwise providing a second display element for initiating communication with the telephone number via a user messaging system.”
