System and method for providing message notification

1. A method for providing message notification in a wireless network, the network being operated to allow a subscriber to send a message to a recipient and the recipient to send a reply, the method comprising:

receiving from the subscriber the message that is to be sent over the wireless network;

after receiving the message at a computer device on the wireless network, prompting the subscriber to enter a requested notification type and a requested notification destination, the prompt generated by one or more of a Routing and Validation Entity (RAVE), an Adaptive Routing Concentrator (ARC), a Logging Administration Maintenance and Billing unit (LAMB), and a Data Storage and Routing Terminal (DART);

receiving from the subscriber the requested notification type and the requested notification destination selected by the subscriber from a plurality of selectable notification types and notification destinations, wherein the requested notification type includes one or more of a receipt notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is received by the recipient and a read notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is read by the recipient;

processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination; and

sending a notification of the requested notification type and concerning an aspect of the message irrespective of message content to the requested notification destination, the notification being separate from a reply from the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning a message identifier to the message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination further comprises:

accessing a data structure for information about a status of the message; and

returning the status of the message to the subscriber.

4. A system for providing message notification in a wireless network, the network being operated to allow a subscriber to send a message to a recipient and the recipient to send a reply, the system comprising:

a computer device for receiving from the subscriber the message that is to be sent over the wireless network, after receiving the message, prompting the subscriber to enter a requested notification type and a requested notification destination, the prompt generated by one or more of a Routing and Validation Entity (RAVE), an Adaptive Routing Concentrator (ARC), a Logging Administration Maintenance and Billing unit (LAMB), and a Data Storage and Routing Terminal (DART), receiving from the subscriber the requested notification type and the requested notification destination selected by the subscriber from a plurality of selectable notification types and notification destinations, and processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination, wherein the requested notification type includes one or more of a receipt notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is received by the recipient and a read notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is read by the recipient; and

a communications device for sending a notification of the requested notification type and concerning an aspect of the message irrespective of message content to the requested notification destination, the notification being separate from a reply from the recipient.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the computer device is further operable to assign a message identifier to the message.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the computer device is further operable to access a data structure for information about a status of the message.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the communications device is further operable to return the status of the message to the subscriber.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving from a subscriber a message that is to be sent over a wireless network, the network being operated to allow the subscriber to send the message to a recipient and the recipient to send a reply;

after receiving the message at a computer device on the wireless network, prompting the subscriber to enter a requested notification type and a requested notification destination, the prompt generated by one or more of a Routing and Validation Entity (RAVE), an Adaptive Routing Concentrator (ARC), a Logging Administration Maintenance and Billing unit (LAMB), and a Data Storage and Routing Terminal (DART);

receiving from the subscriber the requested notification type and the requested notification destination selected by the subscriber from a plurality of selectable notification types and notification destinations, wherein the requested notification type includes one or more of a receipt notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is received by the recipient and a read notification which notifies the subscriber when the message is read by the recipient;

processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination; and

sending a notification of the requested notification type and concerning an aspect of the message irrespective of message content to the requested notification destination, the notification being separate from a reply from the recipient.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further having computer-executable instructions for performing:

assigning a message identifier to the message.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein processing the requested notification type and the requested notification destination further comprises:

accessing a data structure for information about a status of the message; and

returning the status of the message to the subscriber.