Abstract: Claimed is an input device for an electronic data storage and/or transmission apparatus, e.g. a mobile telephone. The input device comprises a keyboard having keys corresponding to numerals inputted by stroking a respective key. The keyboard can be used for inputting other characters, e.g. letters of an alphabet, by combination strokes. The keyboard surface comprises areas on which the user's finger shall be placed when stroking a key or a combination of keys, wherein each of these keyboard surface areas corresponds to a character to be inputted. The arrangement of these areas can correspond to that of a computer keyboard, e.g. QWERTY keyboard.