15. A system for searching a relatively large set of content items in response to unresolved keystroke entry by a user from a keypad with overloaded keys in which a given key is in fixed association with a plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols and the entry has relatively few keystrokes so that a subset of targeted content item results is quickly presented, the system comprising: a collection of subsets of content items associated with corresponding strings of one or more unresolved keystrokes for overloaded keys, the subsets of content items being ranked and associated with the content items based on an ordering criteria so that the subsets of content items are directly mapped to the corresponding strings of unresolved keystrokes; and a computer memory comprising instructions for causing a computer system to: receive a first unresolved keystroke from a user, wherein one of the plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols in fixed association with the first unresolved keystroke is a symbol the user is using to search for desired content items select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; subsequent to receiving the first unresolved keystroke, receive subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and form a string of unresolved keystrokes including the first unresolved keystroke and the subsequent unresolved keystrokes in the order received; and select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes received based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; wherein at least one of selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke and selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes selects the subset of content items using a data structure or a term intersection process or a combination thereof, the data structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the first storage structure including a plurality of subsets of content items, each subset being associated with a corresponding string of unresolved keystrokes, wherein using the data structure to select a subset of content items includes returning the subset of content items of the first storage structure that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes entered by the user and retrieving additional content items from the second storage structure if the desired content items are not present in the first storage structure.
15. A system for searching a relatively large set of content items in response to unresolved keystroke entry by a user from a keypad with overloaded keys in which a given key is in fixed association with a plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols and the entry has relatively few keystrokes so that a subset of targeted content item results is quickly presented, the system comprising: a collection of subsets of content items associated with corresponding strings of one or more unresolved keystrokes for overloaded keys, the subsets of content items being ranked and associated with the content items based on an ordering criteria so that the subsets of content items are directly mapped to the corresponding strings of unresolved keystrokes; and a computer memory comprising instructions for causing a computer system to: receive a first unresolved keystroke from a user, wherein one of the plurality of alphabetical and numerical symbols in fixed association with the first unresolved keystroke is a symbol the user is using to search for desired content items select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; subsequent to receiving the first unresolved keystroke, receive subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and form a string of unresolved keystrokes including the first unresolved keystroke and the subsequent unresolved keystrokes in the order received; and select and present the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes received based on the direct mapping of unresolved keystrokes to the subsets of content items; wherein at least one of selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke and selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes selects the subset of content items using a data structure or a term intersection process or a combination thereof, the data structure including a first storage structure and a second storage structure, the first storage structure including a plurality of subsets of content items, each subset being associated with a corresponding string of unresolved keystrokes, wherein using the data structure to select a subset of content items includes returning the subset of content items of the first storage structure that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes entered by the user and retrieving additional content items from the second storage structure if the desired content items are not present in the first storage structure. 23. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one of receiving a first unresolved keystroke from the user, selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the first unresolved keystroke, receiving subsequent unresolved keystrokes from the user and forming a string of unresolved keystrokes, and selecting and presenting the subset of content items that is associated with the string of unresolved keystrokes occurs on said device operated by said user.