1. A method of initiating an audio conference at a mobile communications device, said method comprising: receiving a text-based message over a data network; extracting contents of at least two fields of said text-based message; utilizing said contents in constructing an audio conference request message; transmitting said audio conference request message over said data network to an audio conference gateway, said audio conference gateway being capable of establishing voice channels between said audio conference gateway and devices associated with telephone destination numbers and of bridging said voice channels; establishing a voice connection with said audio conference gateway subsequent to said transmitting; and receiving status information from said audio conference gateway in-band over said voice connection; wherein said extracting contents of at least two fields of said text-based message includes: determining an identity of an originator associated with said text-based message; determining an identity of a primary receiver associated with said text-based message; and determining an identity of a secondary receiver associated with said text-based message; and wherein said utilizing said contents to construct said audio conference request message includes: determining, based on said identity of said originator, a telephone destination number (DN) for an originator device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with said originator device; determining, based on said identity of said primary receiver, a telephone DN for a primary receiver device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with primary receiver device; and determining, based on said identity of said secondary receiver, a telephone DN for a secondary receiver device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with said secondary receiver device; and configuring said audio conference request message to initiate an audio conference, said audio conference request message including said telephone DN for said originator device and said telephone DN for said primary receiver device and said telephone DN for said secondary receiver device.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said voice channels are established over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).