Patent ID: 7454237

Claim:
A mobile telephone comprising: a housing; a keypad located in the housing including a plurality of number keys wherein at least one number key is used to select at least three different characters; a display located in the housing; a first shift key; and a second shift key wherein one of the at least three different characters selectable with the at least one number key is selected by activating the at least one number key in combination with at least one key selected from the group of keys consisting of the first shift key and the second shift key wherein no more than two keys are activated to select each one of the at least three different characters, wherein the telephone includes no more than two shift keys and wherein the at least one key selected from the group of keys consisting of the first shift key and the second shift key is used exclusively in conjunction with the at least one number key for selecting characters, wherein one of the at least three characters is displayed by activating the at least one number key and the first shift key, and wherein the first shift key is activated before the number key is activated.