A method and system are provided for serving multimedia messages to a cellular wireless communications device through an alternative route. According to an embodiment, the wireless device is locally coupled with a computer such as a PC. When a message notification arrives at the wireless device through a cellular air interface, the wireless device passes an indication of the notification to the local computer. The local computer then requests the message from a message server and the message delivered through a high-bandwidth wired pathway. Finally, the message is rendered for output at a terminal.