A handheld electronic device, comprising: a controller; a display screen connected to the controller; an input device connected to the controller; a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network; a notification element connected to the controller; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition; deactivating the display screen; monitoring for a plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device via the input device when the device is in the locked state; with the display screen deactivated, generating, without unlocking the device, a notification regarding a new event and/or device state via the notification element in response to detection of one of said plurality of predetermined inputs when the device is in the locked state; and triggering an unlocking process in response to an input other than said plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device in the locked state; wherein in the locked state restrictions limiting the interaction with the device are enforced, the restrictions prevent entry or extracting of information from the device other than the notification in response to the plurality of predetermined inputs and the unlocking process triggered by the other input, wherein at least two types of notifications are provided, each type of notification associated with a respective application on the device, wherein each type of notification is provided in response to detection of a respective different predetermined input when the device is in the locked state. a controller; a display screen connected to the controller; an input device connected to the controller; a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network; a notification element connected to the controller; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition; deactivating the display screen; monitoring for a plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device via the input device when the device is in the locked state; with the display screen deactivated, generating, without unlocking the device, a notification regarding a new event and/or device state via the notification element in response to detection of one of said plurality of predetermined inputs when the device is in the locked state; and triggering an unlocking process in response to an input other than said plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device in the locked state; initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition; deactivating the display screen; monitoring for a plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device via the input device when the device is in the locked state; with the display screen deactivated, generating, without unlocking the device, a notification regarding a new event and/or device state via the notification element in response to detection of one of said plurality of predetermined inputs when the device is in the locked state; and triggering an unlocking process in response to an input other than said plurality of predetermined inputs for interacting with the device in the locked state; wherein in the locked state restrictions limiting the interaction with the device are enforced, the restrictions prevent entry or extracting of information from the device other than the notification in response to the plurality of predetermined inputs and the unlocking process triggered by the other input, wherein at least two types of notifications are provided, each type of notification associated with a respective application on the device, wherein each type of notification is provided in response to detection of a respective different predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.