Abstract: An apparatus and method for activating an operational mode for a portable intelligent communications device when a user thereof is engaged in a meeting. The operational mode includes various settings of the portable intelligent communications device configured therefor with such settings being activated upon initiation of the meeting. The operational mode is then deactivated upon completion of the meeting. Both activation and deactivation of the operational mode may be accomplished either automatically or manually. In either case, the settings for the operational mode are configured via a graphical user interface on a display screen of the portable intelligent communications device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically configuring settings for a software application in a portable intelligent communications device, where the software application settings are dependent on certain geographical location information. The method includes the steps of determining a current geographical location for the portable intelligent communications device or setting a default location therefor, determining a geographical location for a party with whom the portable intelligent communications device is currently having an active voice conversation or with whom the portable intelligent communications device most recently had an active voice conversation, and integrating the geographical location information determined to automatically configure the settings of the software application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically handling initiation of a call by a portable intelligent communications device to a designated recipient, including the steps of determining local time for the designated recipient and determining from the local time whether to permit initiation of the call to the designated recipient. The method also includes the steps of storing time zone information for the designated recipient and calculating from the designated recipient time zone information the local time. Additionally, the method will include the steps of storing at least one phone number for the designated recipient, storing a time range during which said designated recipient may be called at each phone number, and comparing the local time of the designated recipient to the stored time range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually monitoring the status of a phone call initiated by a portable intelligent communications device including the steps of displaying a graphical image on a display screen of the portable intelligent communications device and depicting on the graphical image a current status of the phone call. The graphical image is a geographical map and the method further includes the steps of depicting a current location of the portable intelligent communications device on the graphical image, depicting the destination location of the phone call on the graphical image, and depicting progressive connection of the phone call to a destination location on the graphical image.