Patent ID: 8255835

Claim:
A method of managing unopened electronic messages comprising the steps of: displaying a home screen on a visual display; providing, at a location on the home screen, a first indicator of the presence of a number of unopened electronic messages received, and an associated value reflecting the number of unopened electronic messages received; selectively displaying on the visual display a message listing to view portions of electronic messages, the electronic messages including at least one electronic message in an unopened state; redisplaying the home screen with the first indicator on the visual display, following display of the message listing, and while the at least one electronic message is in the unopened state; and altering the first indicator to provide a visually distinguishable non-numerical annunciation that a new unopened electronic message is received, the visually distinguishable non-numerical annunciation distinguishing the new unopened electronic message from the at least one electronic message in the unopened state.