For a text message received by a mobile terminal, some or all of the message is converted to voice-based content, depending upon the user's preference or upon the capability of the wireless device's display. When the display of the mobile terminal is too small to accommodate a large text-based message, a software module converts the text-based content to voice-based content. The voice-based content is then output to a speaker in the wireless device. For received messages of more than one type of content, only the portions of the message that are within the capabilities of the receiver are outputted, or converted to another type of content if possible.