Importance

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Abstract

A wireless communication device (101) is coupled to an external keyboard (126) through an input/output (I/O) connector (128) mounted on the housing of the wireless communication device (101). The external keyboard (126) includes individual keys for alphabetic characters and numeric characters to permit the easy entry of alphanumeric text for text messaging transmissions by the wireless communication device (101). The keyboard may include a keyboard body (138) with an aperture (144) size to receive and retain the wireless communication device. The I/O connector (128) on the wireless communication device (101) mates with a corresponding keyboard connector (129) located within the aperture (144) of the keyboard body (138). The keyboard (126) may be rotatably mounted to the keyboard housing to permit activation of the keyboard by the user and may be rotated into an open configuration to expose the keypad (122) of the wireless communication device (101) to allow activation of the wireless communication device (101) by the user. The keyboard (126) may also be used to functionally replace the keypad (122) on the wireless communication device (101) by selectively activating a portion of the keys on the keyboard (126) to correspond to the keys on the keypad (122). The keyboard body (138) may include a base support element (160) to support the keyboard (126) on a work surface. The base support element (160) also includes a curved portion (164) and a linear portion (166) to allow the base support element (160) to serve as a belt clip.

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First Claim