METHOD OF RELAYING AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE TO A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE BEYOND THE COVERAGE AREA OF A WIRELESS NETWORK

A method of transmitting an electronic message to a handheld electronic device that is outside the coverage area of a wireless network having at least one Access Point. The method includes: attempting to wirelessly transmit the electronic message from the network to the handheld electronic device through the wireless access point; wirelessly transmitting the electronic message from the wireless access point to a peer handheld electronic device that is within communication range of the access point; and wirelessly transmitting the electronic message from the peer handheld electronic device to the handheld electronic device when the peer handheld electronic device is within communication range of the handheld electronic device.