Dual-Mode Device for Voice Communication

Abstract

In one or more implementations, a request is received at a client device to initiate a communication session with a selected contact using a communication service. One of a first communication network or a second communication network for the communication session with the selected contact is selected at the client device. The selection is based on the selected contact and user preferences. Next, the communication session is established with the selected contact using the selected first communication network or second communication network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a client device, a request to initiate a communication session with a selected contact using a communication service;   selecting, at the client device, one of a first communication network or a second communication network for the communication session with the selected contact based on the selected contact and user preferences; and   establishing the communication session with the selected contact using the selected first communication network or second communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user preferences map two or more groups of particular types of contacts to one of the first communication network or the second communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selecting one of the first communication network or the second communication network further comprises selecting the first communication network or the second communication network based on whether the selected contact comprises the particular type of contact mapped to the first communication network or the particular type of contact mapped to the second communication network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication network comprises a packet data network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second communication network comprises a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises a base station, and wherein the request is received from a handset that is wirelessly coupled to the base station. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving a request further comprises receiving a selection of the selected contact from a contact list received from one or more server devices of the communication service. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 at least a memory and a processor configured to implement operations comprising:
 rendering a user interface for selecting contacts to initiate communication sessions using a communication service; 
 receiving a selection of a contact via the user interface; and 
 establishing a communication session with the selected contact over one of a first communication network or a second communication network, the first or second communication network selected based on the selected contact and user preferences. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the user preferences map two or more groups of particular types of contacts to one of the first communication network or the second communication network, and wherein the first communication network or the second communication network is selected based on whether the selected contact comprises the particular type of contact mapped to the first communication network or the particular type of contact mapped to the second communication network. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the first communication network comprises a packet data network. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the second communication network comprises a public switched telephone network. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the computing device comprises a handset. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface displays contacts from a contact list. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the contact list is stored at the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the contact list is received from a server device. 
     
     
         16 . A method implemented at one or more server devices, the method comprising:
 maintaining, at one or more server devices, a contact list for users of a communication service, each contact list comprising identifiers of contacts and contact information for each respective contact, the contact information mapping one or more contacts to both a first communication network and a second communication network over which communication sessions can be established via the communication service;   receiving a request, from a client device associated with a user of the communication service, for the respective contact list of the user; and   communicating the respective contact list of the user to the client device associated with the user, the client device configured to automatically select one of the first communication network or the second communication network for a communication session with a selected contact based on the selected contact and user preferences mapping two or more groups of particular types of contacts to one of the first communication network or the second communication network.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the communication service enables synchronization of the contact list with multiple devices of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the request is received in response to the user logging into the communication service at the client device for a first time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein communicating the respective contact list causes the respective contact list to be cached at the client device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first communication network comprises a packet data network, and wherein the second communication network comprises a public switched telephone network.