A method is described comprising: assigning to each of a first group of keys of an alphanumeric keyboard a specific alphabetic character; assigning to each of a second group of keys of the alphanumeric keyboard both a specific alphabetic character and a specific number; and monitoring keys on the keyboard selected in sequence by an end user, and if all keys within the sequence are keys within the second group of keys, generating within the display a contact list containing contact entries, each of the contact entries within the list identified based on the alphabetic characters associated with the sequence of selected keys and/or the numbers associated with the sequence of selected keys.