A first device running a messaging application, such as an instant messaging (IM) application, engages in messaging communication with a remote device running a browsing application. The remote device user is not associated with the messaging network of the first device. The first device sends an instant message directed to the remote device. The remote device is addressed using a means other than the addressing means used in the IM community associated with the first device, such as the MSISDN number of the remote device. The message is processed so that it may be displayed on the remote device by way of the browsing application. The user of the remote device may reply to the message using the browsing application, in which case the reply message is processed and forwarded to the first device, where it is converted into the IM format for display within the IM application.