An apparatus and method for determining the likelihood that a first party will receive a timely response from a second party in response to a message initiated by the first party, and sending an indicator associated with the likelihood of receiving a timely response to a terminal associated with the first party. The likelihood of receiving a timely response can be determined from the response histories of the parties, the relationship of the parties, the types of messages and communication modalities, and presence information. The indicator also can be presented in conjunction with, or in addition to a presence indicator. Representative messages can include message-based communications such as text messaging, voice communications, and email communications. Timely responses can include the answering of a voice call, a return call, and reply to a message. Timeliness can depend on the communication modality that is used.
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