Patent ID: 8391935

Claim:
A portable telecommunications device for use with a wireless communications network, the portable telecommunications device comprising: a wireless transceiver; at least one antenna; user input components, including an audio input component configured to facilitate voice communications, and a keyboard configured to facilitate text communications; user output components, including an audio output component configured to facilitate voice communications; digital memory; at least one processor coupled among the wireless transceiver, the antenna, the user input components, the user output components, and the memory; a portable telecommunications device housing having a front side, wherein the portable telecommunications device housing is sized to be received within a user's hand; a display housing movable about the front side of the portable telecommunications device housing into first, second, and third differing positions; a sensor circuit coupled to the processor and configured to generate first, second and third differing position signals based respectively on positioning of the display housing at the first, second, and third positions; a first display device coupled to the processor, wherein the first display is carried by the display housing, wherein the processor is configured to provide first, second and third operating modes based respectively on receipt of the first, second, and third position signals; wherein the portable telecommunications device, in the first operating mode, displays status information to a user without user input, and wherein the first operating mode is a low power mode; wherein the portable telecommunications device, in the second operating mode, provides greater functionality to the user than the first operating mode, wherein the greater functionality includes more user input options and more user output information than in the first operating mode, and wherein the second operating mode is a higher power mode relative to the first operating mode; and wherein the portable telecommunications device, in the third operating mode, provides greater functionality to the user than the second operating mode, including providing more user input options and more user output information than in the second operating mode, and wherein the third operating mode is a higher power mode relative to the second operating mode; and a second display device coupled to the processor and carried by the portable telecommunications device housing, wherein the second display device is in a second plane parallel to a first plane; wherein the display housing is movable in the first plane in first, second, and third directions into the first, second, and third positions, respectively; and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction and the third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions.