Patent ID: 7102620

Claim:
A method for inputting characters on a mobile communication device having a housing, a display mounted on said housing, a numeric keyboard positioned on a front side of at least one hinged panel mounted on said housing, said device also having an alphanumeric keyboard comprising a first portion positioned on a back side of said panel and a second portion positioned on said housing and covered by said panel when said panel is in a closed position, the method comprising: launching a predetermined application program when said panel is opened if said predetermined application program is not executing and if a home screen is in the foreground; placing said predetermined application program in a foreground mode if said predetermined application program is executing in a background mode when said panel is opened and if said home screen is in the foreground; and placing said predetermined application program in said background mode if said predetermined application program is executing in said foreground mode when said panel is closed and if said predetermined application program was placed in said foreground mode in response to said panel being in said open position.