A method for managing a messaging system for receiving at a messaging server a message addressed, storing the message, transmitting a notification of the presence of the message at the messaging server, receiving a request to retrieve the message, validating the first mobile messaging client device, transmitting the message and a message attribute from the messaging server to the first mobile messaging client device, and receiving at the messaging server from the first mobile messaging client device a message management notification generated by the first mobile messaging client device in connection with managing the message in accordance with the message attribute at the first mobile messaging client device.