Abstract: A portable electronic device is provided, comprising a display screen area for providing visual feedback and for receiving gestures inputs, and a switching controller to enable switching between multiple applications that have been executed on the device, the switching controller being adapted to interact with an operating system on the device and including a number of software components that interact with components that are native to an operating system on the device, and wherein the device further comprises a processor for invoking procedures relating to the particular components of the switching controller, wherein the switching controller comprises a task management component for maintaining an ordered list of tasks that are running on the device and allowing for task status to be changed.

Abstract: A mobile communication device, a mobile communication method and an application manager are provided that can coordinate integration of the functionality of a new application relating to a communication service such a social networking communication service into pre-installed user interface application on the communication device. A mobile communication device is also provided that can update image data such as an avatar relating to a contact in a contact list based on the image data provided by a communication service. A mobile communication device is also provided that can determine whether the device is in a particular network and determine whether the device can access data relating to a service depending on whether the network is in a predetermined category.