A graphical user interface for inputting symbols into a handheld mobile communication device having a reduced key keyboard is disclosed. The reduced key keyboard includes a plurality of multi-functional keys and corresponding indicia including keys associated with alphabetic characters corresponding to an array of letters A-Z defined with reference to a standard alphabetic format for arranging said letters on a regular keyboard and an overlaid numeric phone key arrangement, said plurality of keys associated with alphabetic characters numbering fewer than 26. The graphical user interface (GUI)comprises a plurality of views for displaying on a display of the device, each view representing said plurality of keys associated with the alphabetic characters and respective symbols associated with individual ones of said plurality of keys; and a mapping component for selecting a symbol in response to a user input using a one of said plurality of keys associated with the alphabetic characters.Preferably, each of the plurality of views represents a look of the reduced key keyboard whereby to permit a user to visually map each key to its' associated symbol. The symbols are arranged among the plurality of views and within a view to facilitate intuitive and efficient input of the symbols.