The present invention discloses a communication system including a
communications network, a multiplicity of communications terminals which
are connectable to the communications network and which can be employed by
users to communicate via the communications network, the user not
necessarily being identified with a given communications terminal,
apparatus for monitoring whether or not a user is connected to the
communications network irrespective of which of the multiplicity of
communications terminals that user is employing, and apparatus for
annunciating to a seeking user, currently connected to the communications
network via any of the multiplicity of communications terminals, network
connection status information relating to other users who are in a set of
sought users, which set is definable by the seeking user, and for
providing the seeking user connection address information relating to
those sought users who are currently connected to the communications
network.