Radio communication device having a moveable housing element and keypad disposed therein

A radio communication device having radio circuitry operative in a radio communication system, the radio communication device comprising:

• a body housing element having at least a portion of said radio circuitry disposed therein;
• a touch screen display for entering input data and displaying output data, said touch screen display disposed within said body housing element;
• a moveable housing element having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing opposite the first surface, said moveable housing element coupled to said body housing element and moveable between at least an open position and a closed position, such that when said moveable housing element is in the closed position, a first portion of said touch screen display is outwardly exposed and a second portion of said touch screen display is covered by said movable housing element;
• and
• a keypad having at least a first key carried on said moveable housing element, said at least first key having a first portion exposed on the first surface of said moveable housing element, said at least first key configured to extend for contact with said touch screen display upon actuation when said moveable housing element is in the closed position.

A portable radiotelephone, comprising:

• a first housing element, said first housing element defining a top end, a bottom end, a left side, a right side, and a viewing surface, the viewing surface positioned in between the left and the right sides, the left and the right sides distanced to fit within a hand of user;
• a second housing element, said second housing element movably coupled to the bottom end of said first housing element and providing an open position and a closed position for said portable radiotelephone;
• a speaker, said speaker disposed in said first housing element and outwardly directed from the viewing surface of said first housing element, said speaker providing audio for telephone communication when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position;
• a touch screen display, said touch screen display outwardly directed from the viewing surface of said first housing element and positioned below said speaker, said touch screen display having a display surface sized to fit over more than one-half of the viewing surface of said first housing element, said display surface being fully exposed when said portable radiotelephone is in the open position, said display surface being partially exposed and more than one-half covered when said portable radiotelephone is in the closed position, said touch screen display providing a plurality of contact areas for activation;
• and
• a keypad including a plurality of telephone keys, said keypad carried on said second housing element, said plurality of telephone keys provided for initiating telephone communication.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• a housing, including:
• a first housing element;
• a second housing element coupled to said first housing element, said first and said second housing elements providing an open position and a closed position for said portable electronic device;
• a touch screen display, said touch screen display outwardly directed from said first housing element, said touch screen display having a display surface fully exposed when said portable electronic device is in the open position, said display surface only partially exposed when said portable electronic device is in the closed position;
• a keypad including a plurality of telephone keys, said keypad carried on said second housing element and exposed when said portable electronic device is in the closed position;
• electrical circuitry disposed in said housing, said electrical circuitry including:
• radio circuitry;
• a switch, said switch responsive to the open and closed positions of said portable electronic device;
• and
• a processor, said processor coupled to said switch and to said touch screen display, said processor to provide advanced radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the open position, said processor to control said touch screen display to display the advanced radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the open position, the advanced radio communication functions including at least one of electronic mailing functions, facsimile functions, and short messaging functions, said processor to provide limited radio communication functions in response to said portable electronic device being positioned in the closed position, the limited radio communication functions including telephone functions associated with use of said plurality of telephone keys.