Abstract: A mobile station in accordance with these teachings includes a communication part having a controller, an RF transceiver and an antenna; and that further includes an information entry part embodied as a keypad or a keyboard module that may be detachable from the communication part. The keypad module is coupled, whether attached or detached, through a wireless link to the communication part for conveying keypad-generated information, such as dialed telephone numbers, from the keypad module to the communication part. Preferably the wireless link is a short range, low power RF link, such as a Bluetooth link. The keypad module further includes a source for providing operating power for the keypad module, where the source includes at least one solar cell used alone or in combination with a battery.