Improved techniques for communicating short messages forward an electronic message to an alternate communications device if the system is unable to deliver the short message to a destination communications device. The electronic message is formatted to be compliant with the alternate communications system. Alternatively, the short message may be formatted in compliance with a destination communications device that is not short message compliant and sent to the destination communications device. In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for communicating short messages includes forwarding an electronic message to a first communications device, the forwarding in response to at least an indicator of unsuccessful delivery of a short message to a destination communications device. The first communications device may be incompatible with short message service. The forwarding may be enabled from the destination communications device, the first communications device, or a web browser.