Method and apparatus for dial input using voice in a mobile terminal

An apparatus for dial input using a voice in a mobile terminal, the apparatus comprising:

• a microphone for receiving a voice while a call is connected to an Automatic Response System (ARS) of a called party;
• an input unit comprising a voice dial key;
• a controller for determining whether a predetermined voice dial key is inputted to transmit a numeral instead of an inputted voice while the call is connected, for sensing if the voice dial key is inputted, for controlling to switch between a general telephone call mode and a voice dial mode according to the sensed result, for controlling to transmit a numeral corresponding to the inputted voice during the voice dial mode and for controlling to transmit an audio signal corresponding to the inputted voice during the general telephone call mode;
• and
• a transceiver for transmitting at least one of the numeral and the audio signal to the connected ARS while the call is connected.

A method of simplifying input of an alphanumeric character during a telephone call between a user and a called party, the method comprising:

• while a telephone call is connecting with an Automatic Response System (ARS) of the called party, receiving an input signal from a first key for entering a voice dial mode, indicating that a numeral is to be transmitted instead of voice transmission;
• identifying an alphanumeric character corresponding to the voice communication received from the user during the voice dial mode;
• transmitting a signal corresponding to the alphanumeric character to the connected ARS during the voice dial mode;
• receiving another input signal from a second key for switching from the voice dial mode to a general telephone call mode;
• and
• transmitting an audio signal corresponding to a voice communication received from the user during the general telephone call mode.