Patent ID: 7504967

Claim:
A handheld electronic wireless communication device comprising: a display located above a keyboard; and said keyboard comprising a row of a plurality of elongate alphanumeric keys, each elongate alphanumeric key having a plurality of associated alphanumeric values positioned one above the others and each elongate alphanumeric key being oriented so that a lengthwise axis of each key is substantially upright oriented; wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a right side of a vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated clockwise from the vertical centerline; and wherein the lengthwise axis of a plurality of alphanumeric keys located on a left side of the vertical centerline of the keyboard forms an angle with the vertical centerline and is rotated counterclockwise from the vertical centerline and whereby thumb actuation of each of said keys is facilitated during user operation of the handheld electronic wireless communication device.