1. A method of event notification comprising: receiving an indication of an occurrence of an event at a handheld communications device, the handheld communications device comprising a display device and being configured with a notification definition associated with the event, the display device comprises a light source for illuminating information rendered thereon, the notification definition providing a visual notification of the occurrence of the event, the notification definition comprising a content parameter specifying a scope of content of the visual notification, and an action parameter requiring the communications device to at least illuminate the display device with the light source upon the occurrence of the event and further specifying action to be automatically taken by the communications device after the visual notification is initiated; and providing the visual notification of the occurrence on the display device in accordance with the associated notification definition, the visual notification comprising providing particulars of the event on the illuminated display device.