Mobile communication device

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, a display associated with the front wall, and a keyboard associated with the front wall. Each of the side walls includes a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the length of the side walls. In addition, a reduced key keyboard has arcuate rows, with a top row that includes a send, end, and web browser key. The top row of the keyboard is also arcuate.

1 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a housing having a length and at least a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein at least one of the first and second side walls includes a recessed channel having a length that extends along at least part of the length of the housing, with the recessed channel having a depth that varies along the length of the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed channel is associated with both the first side wall and the second side wall. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller wheel associated with one of the side walls, the roller wheel being positioned in the recessed channel. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the side walls include a lower portion and an upper portion divided by a center line. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the recessed channels tapers from flush with the front and rear surfaces at the center line to recessed at the top of the upper portion relative to the remainder of the respective side wall, with the depth of the recess being the greatest at the top of the upper portion. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the recessed channels tapers from flush with the front and rear walls at a point within the lower portion to recessed relative to the remainder of the respective side wall at a point within the upper portion. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the recessed channels is recessed relative to the remainder of the respective side wall in the upper portion. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion comprises the upper half of each of the side walls, and the lower portion comprises the lower half of each of the side walls. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a front wall and a rear wall associated with the housing, with the first and second side walls being positioned between the front and rear walls, and with a display and a keyboard being coupled to the front wall, wherein at least one input or output device is positioned in recessed channel. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the respective side wall has a lip that extends around the recessed portion such that part of the respective side wall defines the lip. 
   
   
       11 . A housing for a mobile communication device comprising:
 a front wall;   a rear wall;   a left side wall comprising a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the left side wall such that at least part of the left side wall is recessed relative to the remainder of the left side wall, said recessed channel having a depth that varies along at least part of its length; and   a right side wall comprising a recessed channel that extends along at least part of the right side wall such that at least part of the right side wall is recessed relative to the remainder of the right side wall, said recessed channel having a depth that varies along at least part of its length.   
   
   
       12 . The housing of  claim 11 , wherein the recessed channel on the left side wall extends along part of the length of the wall and the recessed channel on the right side wall extends along part of the length of the wall, and further comprising at least one auxiliary input and output positioned within the recessed channels. 
   
   
       13 . The housing of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one auxiliary input and output comprises a roller wheel positioned in the recessed channel of the right side wall. 
   
   
       14 . The housing of  claim 13 , wherein the roller wheel has a dimension that extends outwardly from the side wall past the front and rear walls. 
   
   
       15 . A keyboard for a mobile communication device comprising:
 a plurality of keys arranged in a grid pattern of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each of said keys associated with at least one of a letter, a number, and a function, wherein the number of keys associated with letters is fewer than 26, said letters being presented in the format of a QWERTY keyboard arrangement of 26 letters, such that all 26 letters of the keyboard arrangement are presented on the keyboard at a single time, with each of the rows having an arcuate shape, and further comprising a top row having a send key, an end key, and a web portal key, with the top row having the same arcuate shape as the remaining rows.   
   
   
       16 . The keyboard of  claim 15 , wherein the web portal key is positioned in the top row between the send and end keys. 
   
   
       17 . The keyboard of  claim 15 , wherein the send key, end key, and web portal key each have substantially the same shape and the remaining keys have a different shape. 
   
   
       18 . The keyboard of  claim 15 , wherein all of the keys have a substantially rectangular shape.