Methods, apparatus and/or system for using email to schedule and/or launch group communications sessions

Abstract

Methods and system for scheduling or launching online and phone sessions between two or more people via email and other electronic communication channels without the requirement for an account with the session service provider when scheduling the session. By including a designated service provider email address in the recipient list of the host's email or meeting invitation, a user account can be, and in some embodiments is automatically created by the service provider system in response to receipt of such an Email and session invitations are automatically sent to the host and invitees designated in the host's email or meeting invitation. In this way the host and invites calendars can be automatically updated and populated with session information and information on how to joint the session, e.g., on-line meeting or conference. The Email from the communications provider system can, and in some embodiments does, take the form of an updated invite Email message with the information in the Email from the service provider system updating or replacing information supplied by the original invite from the host.