A system, method, and processor readable medium containing code embodied
therein are provided that enable system users to view one or more system
user's status and to establish communications with the one or more system
users using a user indicator in an electronic document (e.g., electronic
mail message, hypertext markup language document). The user indicator may
be a system user's login identification presented as a hypertext link to
one or more communication options. The system may include an
identification module for identifying the one or more system users. The
identification module may identify a system user's login identification
(e.g., the system user's name, employee number) and provide the system
user's status using the user indicator. A status module, responsive to
the identification module, provides the status of the system users. The
status module may provide a visual indication of a system user's status
using, for example, color coding, formatting, symbols, etc. A
communication module for establishing a communication link with the one
or more system users using the user indicator may also be provided. The
communication module may be used to establish a variety of communications
with one or more of the system users. For example, a user may chat,
telephone, transmit an electronic mail message, share one or more
application programs (e.g., whiteboard presentations), fax, or page one
or more of the system users by selecting (e.g., by using a conventional
computer mouse or keyboard) the communication desired using user
indicator.