A modular keyboard having a mechanical portion and a virtual portion

A modular keyboard (410) configured for an electronic device (400) having a mechanical portion (420) and a virtual portion (430). One of the two portions is an alphanumeric keypad and the other portion is a navigation keypad. The alphanumeric keypad is preferably arranged on a lower portion of the body of the electronic device (400). The virtual keypad (430) is implemented by software and displayed on a touch screen (416) of the electronic device (400). In one input mode of the electronic device (400), only a subset of keys the mechanical portion (420) of the modular keyboard (410) is enabled. In another input mode, all keys of the mechanical portion (420) of the keyboard (410) are enabled. In still another input mode, both the mechanical portion (420) and the virtual portion (430) of the modular keyboard (410) are enabled. The alphanumeric keypad may be provided with a light source e.g. an LED, beneath each key so that keys enabled in a particular mode are lit up to aid a user.