A mobile pointing device includes a portable communication device (10) having an optical sensor (40) integrated in the portable communication device, a display (12) on an opposing side of the optical sensor, and a processor (16). The processor can be programmed to operate the optical sensor as a camera in a first mode (74) and as a mobile pointing device in a second mode (80 or 82) for the portable communication device itself or for an external computing device (52).
