A presence management system is described whereby connections between
watching parties and watched parties in a multiple access communications
network are managed. When the presence management system receives a
contact request from a watching party it determines whether the required
watched party is available for contact. The system then provides
information about this to the watching party who made the request. The
presence management system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g.
email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and
details about the facilities available to the watching party. If, the
presence management system informs the watching party that the watched
party is unavailable, the watching party is able to set up a monitor. In
determining whether the required watched party is available for contact,
the presence management system uses stored information about the watched
party, information about the required connection (e.g. size and type) and
also rules. In addition, information about events from the multiple
access network are used e.g. geographical location of watched party
mobile phones. Advantageously, watched parties or watching parties are
may be groups or aggregates of individuals.