1. A method of providing an input into a handheld electronic device having an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a memory, the input apparatus comprising a plurality of input members including a multiple-axis input device, at least some of the input members each having a plurality of characters assigned thereto, the method comprising: providing an input interpretation function which, responsive to an ambiguous input of a number of input member actuations, is operable to interpret the ambiguous input; detecting an input from the multiple-axis input device and, responsive thereto, moving a focus of the handheld electronic device to a particular component of the handheld electronic device; responsive to the moving of the focus to a particular component, disabling at least temporarily the input interpretation function and providing an alternate input interpretation function; detecting a number of input member actuations; and responsive to the detecting of a number of input member actuations, interpreting the number of input member actuations with the alternate input interpretation function.