Patent ID: 8346294

Claim:
A handheld communication device configurable between a telephone mode and an email mode, said device comprising: a body having a front face at which a user input is located, said user input comprising an appearance-adaptable keypad configurable between a telephone keypad when the device is in the telephone mode and a text entry keypad when the device is in the email mode; said telephone keypad comprising a plurality of alphanumeric input keys having letters and numbers associated therewith, said letters and numbers being arranged in a standard telephone keypad layout when the device is in the telephone mode, wherein the plurality of alphanumeric keys associated with the telephone keypad are arranged in three columns including a central column; said text entry keypad comprising a plurality of alphabetic input keys having letters associated therewith, said letters being arranged in a standard text entry keyboard layout when the device is in the email mode, wherein the plurality of alphabetic input keys associated with the text entry keypad comprise at least five columns having two of the at least five columns are concealed by transitionable key covers and said central column being present in both the telephone keypad and the text entry key pad; and wherein closing of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of the keys of the standard telephone keypad layout used for the telephone mode and opening of the transitionable key covers switches display of the keys on uncovered sides of keypad columns to display of keys of the standard text entry keyboard layout used for the email mode.