Hand-held electronic device with auxiliary input device

A handheld 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, the QWERTY keyboard being symmetrically positioned in the device housing;
• an auxiliary input device positioned in relative proximity to the QWERTY keyboard;
• a display positioned adjacent to the keyboard;
• and
• software residing in the device for providing functionality to inputs received from the auxiliary input device and the QWERTY keyboard.

An electronic communication device, comprising:

• a device housing;
• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving text messages;
• a keyboard for composing text messages to be transmitted by the transceiver, wherein the keyboard includes three sets of tilted oblong shaped keys, wherein the three sets of tilted 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, and wherein the three rows of keys are symmetrically positioned on the device housing;
• and
• a display for displaying the received text messages.

A hand-held electronic device, comprising:

• a device housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the top surface to the a bottom surface;
• an LCD display mounted within the top surface,
• a keyboard mounted within the top surface of the device housing in a position beneath the LCD display, wherein the keyboard comprises as a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys that are tilted with respect to a vertical reference through the top surface, and further wherein the keyboard is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housing, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of letter keys and a plurality of specialized keys, the plurality of letter keys including a first set of oblong shaped keys and a second set of oblong shaped keys, wherein each oblong shaped key in the first set of oblong shaped keys is tilted at a positive angle relative to the vertical reference and each oblong shaped key in the second set of oblong shaped keys is tilted at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference;
• and
• an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing in a position above the keyboard and to the side of the LCD display.

A hand-held electronic device, comprising

• a device housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of connecting surfaces for connecting the top surface to the bottom surface;
• an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
• a keyboard mounted within the top surface of the device housing in a position beneath the LCD display, wherein the keyboard comprises a QWERTY-style keyboard having a plurality of tilted oval shaped keys that are tilted with respect to a vertical reference through the top surface, and further wherein the keyboard is distributed symmetrically across the face of the housing;
• and
• an auxiliary input device mounted within the device housing in a position above the keyboard and to the side of the LCD display.

A wireless e-mail device, comprising:

• a device housing having a top surface and a left and ride side surface coupled to the top surface;
• an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
• a transceiver for receiving e-mail messages front a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the wireless e-mail device to the wireless network;
• and
• a keyboard mounted within the top surface for generating e-mail messages, the keyboard comprising a plurality of tilted oval shaped keys configured as a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the QWERTY keyboard is symmetrically positioned on the top surface of the device housing.

A wireless e-ail device, comprising:

• a device housing having a top surface and a left and right side surface coupled to the top surface;
• an LCD display mounted within the top surface;
• a transceiver for receiving e-mail messages from a wireless network and for transmitting e-mail messages generated on the wireless e-mail device to the wireless network;
• and
• a keyboard mounted within the top surface for generating e-mail messages, the keyboard comprising a plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys configured as a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the QWERTY keyboard is symmetrically positioned on the top surface of the device housing, and wherein the plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys include a first set of keys and a second set of keys, wherein the first set of keys are tilted at a positive angle relative to a vertical reference through the device housing and the second set of keys are tilted at a negative angle relative to the vertical reference.

A wireless e-mail device, comprising:

• a device housing;
• an antenna;
• a transceiver coupled to the antenna for sending and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network;
• a display mounted in the device housing for displaying received e-mail messages, and for presenting a user interface for generating an e-mail message;
• an auxiliary input device mounted in the device housing and having a directional component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented on the display and a switch for selecting one of the menu items;
• and
• a QWERTY keyboard mounted in the device housing for entering the text of an e-mail message, the QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of tilted oval shaped keys.

A wireless e-mail device, comprising:

• a device housing;
• an antenna;
• a transceiver coupled to the antenna for sending and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network;
• a display mounted in the device housing for displaying received e-mail messages, and for presenting a user interface for generating an e-mail message;
• an auxiliary input device mounted in the device housing and having a directional component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented on the display and a switch for selecting one of the menu items;
• and
• a QWERTY keyboard mounted in the device housing for entering the text of an e-mail message, the QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys, wherein the plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys include two groups of keys, a first group of keys that are tilted at a positive angle with respect to a vertical reference through the device housing and a second group of keys that are tilted at a negative angle with respect to the vertical reference.

A wireless e-mail device, comprising:

• a device housing;
• an antenna;
• a transceiver coupled to the antenna for sending and receiving e-mail messages to and from a wireless network;
• a display mounted in the device housing for displaying received e-mail messages, and for presenting a user interface for generating an e-mail message;
• an auxiliary input device mounted in the device housing and having a directional component for navigating a plurality of menu items presented on the display and a switch for selecting one of the menu items;
• and
• a QWERTY keyboard mounted in the device housing for entering the text of an e-mail message, the QWERTY keyboard including a plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys, wherein the plurality of tilted oblong shaped keys are grouped into three rows of letter keys, a first row, a second row, and a third row, wherein the first, second and third rows of letter keys are positioned on the device housing along first, second and third arcs.