1. A method for operating a portable electronic device using voice-activated input, the portable electronic device being operable in a plurality of different operational states, the method comprising: operating the portable electronic device in a low power mode; receiving a voice command while in the low power mode; determining while in the lower power mode that the voice command is one of a set of voice commands authorized for usage while the portable electronic device is in the low power mode, and in response to determining that the voice command is one of the set of voice commands: changing from the low power mode to a normal power mode; and executing a function associated with the voice command once the portable electronic device is in the normal power mode.