FACILITY FOR MESSAGE-BASED CONVERSATIONS

1 . A method for maintaining the state of a message conversation across separate message exchanges to/from a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a message M 1 from a wireless device in connection with a message conversation;

ascertaining, from message M 1 , a key;

based on the key, obtaining through a repository (a) the identity of a Finite State Machine (FSM) and (b) a plurality of attributes for the FSM including a current state of the FSM;

based on the current state of the FSM, and the definition of the FSM, determining (a) a next state of the FSM and (b) an action corresponding to the next state of the FSM;

performing the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM; and

sending a message M 2 to the wireless device, wherein message M 2 is configured to further the message conversation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining (a) the next state of the FSM and (b) the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM is based on at least one aspect of message M 1 .

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one aspect of message M 1 comprises an indicia that distinguishes message M 1 from another message in another message exchange to/from the wireless device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising resetting a current state of the FSM when an expiration time is reached.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving message M 1 and sending message M 2 comprises, sending and receiving one or more of a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia message service (MMS) message, an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) message, an instant messenger (IM) message, or an electronic mail (e-mail) message.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the key comprises ascertaining a telephone number of the wireless device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preserving the FSM in a repository in memory, the FSM including the key, a FSM identifier, a state identifier, and a date/time value.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining, concurrently, a separate FSM for each one of the separate message exchanges.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein message M 2 comprises at least one of a value or a question configured to elicit a reply from a user of the wireless device in the form of a subsequent message.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein message M 2 contains one or more resources including an informational element or an advertisement.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing a registration process with a user of the wireless device, wherein the registration process comprises:

capturing information from the user of the wireless device including at least one of identifying information, account information or billing information.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of identifying information, account information or billing information is organized as a Mobile Subscriber Profile stored in a repository in memory.

13 . An apparatus, comprising:

a memory;

a network interface configured to receive a message M 1 from a wireless device in connection with a message conversation; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to:

ascertain, from message M 1 , a key, wherein the message is received via the network interface;

based on the key, obtain through a repository in the memory (a) the identity of a Finite State Machine (FSM) and (b) a plurality of attributes for the FSM including a current state of the FSM;

based on the current state of the FSM, and the definition of the FSM, determine (a) a next state of the FSM and (b) an action corresponding to the next state of the FSM;

perform the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM; and

cause a message M 2 to be sent, via the network interface, to the wireless device, wherein message M 2 is configured to further the message conversation.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine (a) the next state of the FSM and (b) the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM based on at least one aspect of message M 1 .

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one aspect of message M 1 comprises an indicia that distinguishes message M 1 from another message in another message exchange to/from the wireless device.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

reset a current state of the FSM when an expiration time is reached.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive message M 1 and send message M 2 as one or more of a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia message service (MMS) message, an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) message, an instant messenger (IM) message, or an electronic mail (e-mail) message.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

ascertain the key by ascertaining a telephone number of the wireless device.

19 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with software instructions that when executed are operable to:

to receive a message M 1 from a wireless device in connection with a message conversation;

ascertain, from message M 1 , a key, wherein the message is received via the network interface;

based on the key, obtain through a repository in the memory (a) the identity of a Finite State Machine (FSM) and (b) a plurality of attributes for the FSM including a current state of the FSM;

based on the current state of the FSM, and the definition of the FSM, determine (a) a next state of the FSM and (b) an action corresponding to the next state of the FSM;

perform the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM; and

cause a message M 2 to be sent, via the network interface, to the wireless device, wherein message M 2 is configured to further the message conversation.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, are further operable to:

determine (a) the next state of the FSM and (b) the action corresponding to the next state of the FSM based on at least one aspect of message M 1