This invention relates to a folding portable information terminal including an upper unit having a display section on one surface, a lower unit having an operating section on one surface, and a movable joining member which openably and pivotally couples the upper and lower units to each other or openably couples the units to each other at one end of each of the units. This portable information terminal includes an upper unit posture detecting unit for detecting opening-closing and/or pivoting operation of the upper unit, an information recording section which records at least one of predetermined voice information, still image information, and moving image information, and an information recording control unit for setting the information recording section in a mode of recording selected predetermined information when the upper unit posture detecting unit detects a shift of the upper unit to a predetermined posture or a shift of the upper unit from a predetermined posture during voice communication or a standby period.