An exemplary method is implemented by end-user communication devices for transmitting and receiving HTTP messages in which acknowledgement of receipt by an addressee of an email is requested by an originator of the email. An acknowledgement request command is stored in a command portion of a user data segment of a received HTTP message. Upon receipt of the HTTP message by the addressee device, a reply HTTP message with an acknowledgement request must be authorized to be transmitted to the originator in order to allow the addressee to be able to view the content of the received HTTP message.