INPUT MECHANISM

摘要

A communications device (10) is described comprising a telephone keypad (18) having an input key (22), the input key having associated with it a first input function (42) and a second input function (43), the communications device further comprising a mode selector (20) operable by a user of the communications device to select one of a plurality of input modes; and wherein the communications device is adapted, in response to an activation of the input key, to perform one of the first and second input functions in dependence on the state of the mode selector. In preferred examples, the mode selector is provided in the form of a mode shift key and can provide improved usability and flexibility by allowing several input functions to be associated with a single input key. Aspects of the invention are particularly applicable to mobile telephones and similar devices.