Patent ID: 8493282

Claim:
A handheld electronic device, comprising: a first device comprising a physical keypad comprising at least one soft key, wherein each of said at least one soft key is a physical key with variable functionality, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated at any given time by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor; and a second device, operative as a standalone device, slidably insertable within and slidably detachable from said first device, comprising: a user interface for operating the second device; a processor for operating in cooperation with said first device keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within said first device; and a soft key screen for displaying the at least one soft key descriptor, wherein said soft key screen shows through a portion of said first device, said at least one soft key surrounds said soft key screen on two or more sides, and each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed proximate the location of its corresponding soft key on said first device keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within said first device.