Methods and apparatus for providing a messaging server within a premises device e.g., a home or enterprise gateway device. In one embodiment, a system is described that includes a premises device that acts as a centralized client messaging platform providing messaging services between a content provider and client devices, and also between client devices within a premises network. The premises device enables client-to-client communication that bypasses the long trip and propagation delay over the Internet by connecting the message across the premises network within the home or building. The premises device enables messages to be communicated between a content provider outside the premises network and the client devices via a single connection to minimize the number of Internet connections that need to be opened, and the number of messages communicated with servers outside of the premises network via both upstream aggregation and downstream dis-aggregation, which collectively save both network bandwidth and device reaction time.