Abstract: A text entry method simplifies entry of the text messages in a mobile phone having a limited number of entry keys. A word list is stored in the phone's memory. The word list is divided into a plurality of groups and each group is associated with a particular group key on the keypad. The user first selects a word group by pressing the corresponding group key. The user can then scroll through the words in the group to select the desired word. The selected word may optionally then be translated into a codeword and the codeword then transmitted to a remote location. Individual characters may also be selected and translated in a similar manner in some embodiments.