Patent ID: 7096036

Claim:
A dual-mode keypad, comprising: a plurality of dual-mode keys that each include an associated telephony character and at least one associated text-entry character, a plurality of single-mode text keys that each include an associated text-entry character, and a plurality of single-mode function keys that each include an associated function entry; the dual-mode keys including one or more toggle keys, each toggle key having two associated text-entry characters and one associated telephony character; the dual-mode keypad being operable in a telephony mode and a text-entry mode; when the dual-mode keypad is operating in text-entry mode, the dual-mode keys being operable to input the associated text-entry characters, the toggle keys each being operable to input a first text-entry character when a first portion of the toggle key is pressed and to input a second text-entry character when a second portion of the toggle key is pressed; when the dual-mode keypad is operating in telephony mode, the dual-mode keys being operable to input the associated telephony characters, the toggle keys each being operable to input one of the associated telephony characters when any portion of the toggle key is pressed; wherein the dual-mode keys are arranged in three central columns of keys with four rows.