Abstract: An electronic device (10) provides user message notifications as to messages that were received when the user was not in possession of or in the vicinity of the electronic device. The electronic device includes a communications circuit (46) for receiving an incoming message, and an output device (30, 32, 50) for outputting a message notification associated with the incoming message. A sensor (20) detects a user and generates a detection signal when the user is detected. A controller (41, 42) is configured to receive the detection signal, and configured in response to the detection signal to generate the message notification for outputting by the output device. In one embodiment, a timer (36) counts a predetermined time after receipt of the incoming message. If a user input is not received within the predetermined time, the controller causes the electronic device to enter an away from phone (AFP) mode in which the sensor is activated.