The present invention includes a telecommunication method. The method can include the step of a sending device operating in a first communication mode initializing a communication to a receiving device operating in a second communication mode. The receiving device can be queried to automatically determine that the receiving device is operating in the second communication mode. In one embodiment, the first and second communication modes can include a speech mode and a text mode. The communication can be established between the sending and receiving devices, where the sending device communicates in the first communication mode, and where the receiving device communicates in the second communication mode. During the communication, a format of messages conveyed between the sending device and the receiving device can be automatically changed in accordance with the first communication mode and the second communication mode.