Hand-held e-mail device

A handheld e-mail device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of a user comprising:

• (a) a device housing;
• (b) a QWERTY keyboard residing on the housing, the QWERTY keyboard having a plurality of oblong shaped letter keys, wherein each oblong shaped letter key is tilted at a common angle relative to a vertical reference through the device, and wherein the QWERTY keyboard is used to generate an e-mail message, wherein the plurality of letter keys include two groups of keys, a first group of letter keys that are tilted at a positive angle with respect to the vertical reference and a second group of letter keys that are tilted at a negative angle with respect to the vertical reference, wherein the positive and negative angles are common in magnitude but opposite in sign;
• and
• a transceiver for sending and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network.

An electronic communication device, comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving text messages to and from a wireless network;
• a keyboard for composing text messages to be transmitted by the transceiver, wherein the keyboard includes three sets of oblong shaped keys, wherein the three sets of oblong shaped keys are arranged into a QWERTY keyboard having three rows of keys, a top row, a middle row, and a bottom row, wherein the first set of keys is arranged in an arc and forms a top row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, the second set of keys is arranged in an arc and forms a middle row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, and the third set of keys is arranged in an arc and forms the bottom row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, wherein the three sets of oblong shaped keys are oval shaped, and wherein the oval shaped keys are tilted at a common angle with respect to a vertical reference through the electronic communication device;
• and
• a display for displaying the received text messages.

A handheld e-mail device, comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network;
• a keyboard for composing email messages to be transmitted by the transceiver, wherein the keyboard includes three sets of tilted keys, wherein the three sets of tilted keys are arranged into a QWERTY keyboard having at least three rows of keys, a top row, a middle row, and a bottom row, wherein the first set of keys is tilted at a first angle to a vertical reference and forms a top row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, the second set of keys is tilted to a second angle to the vertical reference and forms a middle row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, and the third set of keys is tilted to a third angle to the vertical reference and forms the bottom row of keys in the QWERTY keyboard, wherein the first, second and third angles are equal;
• and
• a display for displaying the received e-mail messages.

A handheld e-mail device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of a user, comprising:

• a device housing;
• a QWERTY keyboard comprising a plurality of letter keys, wherein the plurality of letter keys are oblong shaped keys, and wherein each oblong shaped key is tilted relative to a vertical reference through the device, wherein the plurality of letter keys in the QWERTY keyboard are grouped into a first set of letter keys and a second set of letter keys, wherein the first set of letter keys are tilted at a positive angle with respect to the vertical reference and the second set of letter keys are tilted at a negative angle with respect to the vertical reference;
• an auxiliary input device positioned in relative proximity to the QWERTY keyboard;
• a display positioned adjacent to the keyboard;
• a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network;
• and
• software residing in the device for providing functionality to inputs received from the auxiliary input device and the QWERTY keyboard.