 whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention. There is a trend nowadays for portable radio telephone units to be increasingly lightweight and compact. This in conjunction with the fact that such units are cordless offers not only enhanced mobility but also true portability, so that the user can readily carry a portable radio telephone unit, for example in a pocket or briefcase, wherever he or she goes. Particularly in the case of cellular radio, this gives the user a very flexible and powerful means of communication, which can always be to hand.
When an incoming call is received by the telephone a call indicator is activated to alert the user to the fact that there is an incoming call. The call indicator may include an audible signal, e.g. a ring tone, and/or a visual signal, e.g. a message such as "CALL" may be flashed on a visual display panel. The call can be answered by the user depressing one of the keys on the telephone keypad which produces the so-called "off-hook" condition in the telephone.
A drawback with cellular telephone systems is that the system allows only a relatively short window of time before an incoming call is timed out, i.e. the incoming call is terminated by the system if the call is not answered within the pre-set time period. In practice this window of time may be as short as only 3-5 rings. This can be very frustrating for a user who intends to take an incoming call, but finds that he is unable to do so only because the telephone may be in a slightly inaccessible place. For example, when driving, the driver may have placed the telephone in an inside pocket of his jacket which he has hung up in the rear of the car. Alternatively for example, the driver may have put the telephone in a briefcase on the rear seat of the car. In either case, if the telephone rings while the subscriber is driving it may be very difficult to stop the car in a safe location, retrieve the telephone, and press a key to answer the call, within the short time allowed. Consequently the call will often be terminated by the system before the subscriber has had sufficient opportunity to take the call, although the intention was to answer it. Clearly this can be frustrating for both the caller and for the subscriber.
EP-A-0381214 discloses a telephone in which a touch sensitive portion is provided, for example, on an external surface of the telephone itself or at some other remote, but accessible
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention. There is a drift nowadays for portable radio receiver telephone units to be increasingly lightweight and compact. This in junction with the fact that such unit are cordless offers not only enhance mobility but besides true portability, so that the user can readily carry a portable radio telephone whole, for example in a pocket or briefcase, wherever he or she fail. peculiarly in the case of cellular radio, this give the exploiter a very elastic and powerful means of communication, which can always be to pass. 
 When an incoming call is received by the telephone a cry indicator is trip to alert the user to the fact that there is an incoming call. The call index may include an audible signal, e.g. a ring tone, and/or a visual signal, e.g. a message such as " CALL " may be flash on a visual display panel. The call can be answered by the user depressing one of the keys on the telephone keypad which produces the so - call " off - hook " condition in the telephone. 
 A drawback with cellular telephone system is that the arrangement allows only a relatively short windowpane of time before an incoming margin call is timed out, i.e. the incoming call is end by the system if the call is not answered within the pre - set time period. In exercise this window of time may be as short as only 3 - 5 rings. This can be very frustrating for a user who intend to take an incoming call, but finds that he is unable to do therefore only because the telephone may be in a slightly inaccessible place. For case, when driving, the driver may have placed the telephone in an inside pocket of his jacket which he has hang up in the rear of the cable car. Alternatively for example, the driver may have put the telephone in a briefcase on the rear seat of the car. In either case, if the telephone band while the subscriber is driving it may be very unmanageable to stop the car in a dependable location, retrieve the telephone, and press a key to answer the call option, within the short time allowed. Consequently the call will often be terminated by the system before the subscriber has had sufficient opportunity to take the cry, although the intention was to answer it. distinctly this can be frustrating for both the caller and for the subscriber. 
 EP - A-0381214 discloses a telephone in which a touch sensible portion is provided, for example, on an external surface of the telephone itself or at some other remote, but accessible
 whfther any of the above mlght be applicable as pcior arf with rdgard to the present inventiln. Thert is a trend nowadahs for pogtable raeio uelephone units to be incvzasinfpy lngitweight and cokpact. This in conjunctiot dich the fact that such units are cordjess ofgegs not only enranctd iobimptn but also true portability, so tgat the user can reacily carry a portable radil tepephone unit, for edample in a pochwt or briefcxse, wherevtr he or she goes. Particularly in the case uf ceklular raduo, thlv gives the user a very flexlnle ang powergul means of cpmmnnicqtion, which can alwayv be to hand.
When ag incominc eall is received by tye telekhone a cxol kndjcetod is aftitated to alsrt the usee to the fact that uhewv is an incomjng cajl. The call indicator may include an auditle signal, e.g. a ring tone, qnd/or a visual signal, e.g. a mesfage such as "CALL" may be flashed on a visual dispnay pendl. Uhc zqlp can be answered by the user depressing one jr uhe keys on the tclephone keypad whocj ltoduces the so-zalled "ofr-hook" condition in the tejephobe.
A drawbwck eith cellular telephone sysrems is that rhe system allows lnly a relacively shory window of time before an jncoming capl is timsa out, i.e. the incumikg wall is udrminated by the fystem if the call ir noj answewed within the ise-set time period. Ln prcctica this winfow of time may be as short as only 3-5 rings. Thos cat be verv frusbrating for a ufer who intendx to tahe an incoming ball, but hinds that hq is unable tm do so only uecause tre twlepyone mah be in a slighyly inaccvsfiblw place. For examplc, whev driving, the drnret may have placrd ghe tvle'hone hn an inside pocyet pf hir jackeu wmicf he has hung up in the sear of the car. Alternstlvely for example, the driver msy have put the tepephoie in e briegcafe on the rear seat of the car. In eitheg cwse, if the tqlepmone rings whike the subscriber is driving it may be tery difficult to stop rhe car in a safe lpgation, retrixve thq telephote, and press a key ti answer the call, within the short tims allofed. Clnsequently the call will often be terminated by the system before the suvscribxr has had surficoent mp'orcunity eo tekx the call, althoubh the intention was to answer mt. Clearly tkis can be frustrating for boyh the caller avd for the subscriber.
EP-A-0381214 disclosrs a telephone in which a touch sensitive portion is prpvided, fir exzmple, on ai external surface og the celephine itswlf lr at some otfer rcmote, but wccexsnble
whether any of the above might be prior with regard the present invention. for radio telephone units be increasingly lightweight compact. This in conjunction with the that such units are cordless offers not only enhanced mobility but also true so that the user can readily carry a portable radio telephone unit, for in pocket briefcase, he or she goes. Particularly in the case of cellular radio, this gives the user a flexible and powerful means of communication, which can be to hand. When incoming call is received by telephone call indicator activated alert user to the that there is an incoming call. The call indicator may include an audible signal, e.g. a ring and/or a e.g. a such "CALL" be flashed on display panel. The call can be user depressing one of the keys on the keypad which the so-called "off-hook" condition in the A drawback with cellular telephone systems is that system allows only a relatively short window of time before an incoming call is timed the incoming call is by the system the is answered the pre-set period. In practice this window of time may be as short only 3-5 rings. This can be very frustrating for a intends take an incoming but finds that he unable do so only because may in place. example, driving, the driver may placed the telephone in an pocket of his jacket in the rear of the car. Alternatively for the driver may have put the telephone a briefcase on the rear seat of the car. In either case, the telephone the subscriber is driving it may be very to stop the car a safe location, retrieve the telephone, and press a to the call, the short time Consequently the call often be terminated system before subscriber had take the call, although the intention to it. Clearly this can be for caller and for the subscriber. EP-A-0381214 discloses a telephone in which a touch sensitive portion for example, on an surface the telephone itself or at some other remote, but accessible
 whether any of the above might Be applicabLe as pRioR arT wIth rEgarD to the present iNVentIon. There is a trend nowadaYs for PoRTablE RaDio teLephone UNiTS To bE iNcReaSiNGlY lighTweIght and Compact. ThiS in CoNjunction witH ThE fact that sUch Units are cordLesS offerS nOt oNLy enhAncEd mobIlity bUT also tRue portabIlITy, so thAT the useR CAn ReadIly carry a portable RAdIO telephone unit, For exaMpLE iN A PocKet Or briefcasE, wHerevER he or shE GoES. pArtICularly in the cAse of cellulAR raDio, thiS gIveS The useR a verY fLExiBle and powerFul mEans of comMunicaTIon, whicH Can alwaYs be to HanD.
WhEn an INcOmIng CaLL is REcEivED by The telepHoNe A call IndiCATOR is aCtiVateD to alErt the user to tHe fAct tHAt tHere iS an inComiNg Call. THe call IndicAtOr may include an aUdibLe signal, e.G. a rInG toNe, And/or A Visual SigNal, E.g. a messAge such AS "CAlL" MAY Be Flashed on a visual diSpLAY pAnel. The cAll can BE aNsWEred by thE uSer DeprESSing oNe of THe Keys on thE telepHOnE kEypad whIcH produCeS thE so-CalleD "Off-hOok" conDition in The teLEphone.
A drawbacK With cellular tELePHOnE SystEms Is that the syStem ALlowS onlY A rElaTIvely Short WiNDoW Of time before an incomInG call iS timeD out, i.e. the incoMing call is TERMinated bY the SYsTEm if the call is nOt ansWered withiN The pre-seT time Period. In Practice tHIS window oF tiMe mAy bE as SHOrT as only 3-5 rings. THIS can Be Very fruStrAting foR a uSer Who IntEnDs to take aN incominG cAlL, bUt FinDs thaT He is unabLe To dO sO onLy becAUse the TelepHone MaY bE In a SlightlY InACCessIbLe PlacE. FoR eXamplE, wheN DriVing, the Driver may HavE PlacEd ThE telephOne in an inside PoCket of his jAcKet Which hE HAs hung up In the rear of the car. AlternATively fOr eXamplE, the Driver may HavE put thE teLEphone In a briEfcasE oN thE REar seAT Of The CaR. In either cASE, if The teLePhonE rings wHile the subscriber iS DriVing it may be veRy dIffiCULt To sTOp THe cAr IN a sAFE location, retrieVe the telepHoNE, aNd press a keY To aNsWer the cAll, withIn the SHort timE allowed. COnsequentLy The cALL wiLl often be tErminateD by the sysTEm befORe The suBscRiber hAs Had SuffiCient oPPorTunitY to takE tHe call, AlthoUgH the inteNtion was to answer it. ClearLy this Can be FruStrating fOr bOTh tHe caller aNd foR the subscrIbeR.
EP-a-0381214 discLosES a telEphoNE iN whICh a toUch sENsitive poRTiOn iS PRoVided, for exaMPLE, on An extErnAL surfaCe of The telephone itselF Or at some other rEmotE, BUt aCceSSiblE
 whether any of the abovemight be a pplic abl e a sprio r ar t with regardt o th e present invention. T hereis a tr e nd  nowa days fo r  p o r tab le  r adi ot el ephon e u nits to  be increa sin gl y lightweigh t  a nd compact . T his in conju nct ion wi th  th e  fact  th at su ch uni t s arecordlessof f ers no t  only e n h an cedmobility but also tr u e portability,  so th at th e use r c an readily  c arrya  portab l er a d iot elephone unit , for examp l e i n a po ck eto r brie fcase ,w her ever he orshegoes. Par ticula r ly in t h e caseof cel lul arradi o ,th isgi v est he  us e r a  very fl ex ib le an d po w e r f ul m ean s of  comm unication, wh ich  can alw ays b e tohand .Whenan inc oming  c all is received  bythe telep hon ea c al l ind i catorisact ivatedto aler t  th eu s e rto the fact that t he r e  i s an inc omingc al l. The call  i ndi cato r may i nclu d ean audib le sig n al ,e.g. ari ng ton e,  an d/o r a v i sual  signa l, e.g.a mes s age such as "C A LL" may be fl a sh e d  o n  a v isu al displaypane l . Th e ca l lcan be an swere db yt he user depressingon e of t he ke ys on the tel ephone key p a d  which p rodu c es the so-called"off- hook" cond i tion inthe t elephone .
A drawb a c k with c ell ula r t ele p h on e systems ist h at t he  system  al lows on lya r ela tiv el y short w indow of  t im ebe for e ani ncomingca llis  ti med o u t, i.e . the  inc om in g  ca ll is t e rm i n ated  b ythesys te m ifthec all  is not  answered  wi t hinth epre-set  time period.  I n practice  t his  windo w of timemay be as short as only 3-5 rin gs.  This  can  be veryfru strati ngf or a u ser wh o int en dst o  take a ninc om ing call,b u t f indsth at h e is un able to do so only bec ause the tele pho ne m a y  b e i n  a sli gh t lyi n accessible plac e. For exa mp l e,  when driv i ng,  t he driv er mayhavep laced t he teleph one in an  i nsid e poc ket of his  jacketwhich heh as hu n gup in  th e rear  o f t he ca r. Alt e rna tivel y forex ample,  thedr iver may  have put the telephone  in abrief cas e on therea r  se at of the  car . In eithe r c ase , ifthe telep hone ri ngs while  the subscribe r  i s d r i vi ng it may b e v ery  diff icu l t to s topthe car in a safe location, retr ieve t hetel e phon e,  and press a k eyto a nswer th ecall, withi n the sh or t  time  allow ed. Co nsequen t l yt he cal l wi lloften beter mi n ated by  t he system  bef or e thesubscr i berh a s had sufficient  oppo r t unity totaketh e call, alth ough the i ntention wa s to a nswe r it.  Clearl ythis c anbe  frustrati n g for bot h the  caller  a nd f orthe su bscr i b er.
E P-A- 03 812 14 disclo s e sa  t el e pho ne i n whi ch  a t ouch sens i tive por tio n  is pro vi ded , for ex a mp l e , on an ex ter nal s u r face of th e  tel e ph o ne it self o r at s ome oth e r r em ote, bu t a c c essible
 whether_any of_the above might be_applicable as_prior_art with_regard_to the present_invention. There is_a trend nowadays for_portable radio telephone_units_to be increasingly lightweight and compact. This in conjunction with the fact that such_units_are cordless_offers_not_only enhanced mobility but also_true portability, so that the_user can_readily carry a portable radio telephone unit, for_example_in a pocket_or briefcase, wherever he or she goes. Particularly in_the case of cellular radio, this_gives the user_a_very_flexible and powerful means_of communication, which can always be_to hand.
When an incoming call is_received by the telephone a call indicator_is activated to alert the user_to the fact that there_is an_incoming call. The call indicator_may include an_audible signal,_e.g. a ring_tone, and/or a visual signal, e.g._a message such_as "CALL" may be flashed on_a_visual display panel._The_call_can be_answered by the_user_depressing one_of_the keys on the telephone keypad_which_produces the so-called "off-hook" condition in the_telephone.
A drawback with cellular_telephone_systems is that the_system allows only a relatively_short window of time before an_incoming call_is timed_out, i.e. the incoming call is terminated by the system if_the call is not answered within_the pre-set time period._In practice_this_window of time_may_be as_short as only 3-5 rings. This can_be very_frustrating for a user who intends_to take an incoming_call,_but finds that he is unable_to do so only because the_telephone may be in a_slightly_inaccessible_place. For example, when driving,_the driver may have placed the_telephone in an_inside pocket of his jacket which he_has_hung up in the rear of_the_car. Alternatively for example, the driver_may_have_put the telephone in a_briefcase on the rear seat of_the car. In either case, if the telephone rings_while the subscriber_is driving it may be_very_difficult_to stop the car in a safe location, retrieve the_telephone, and_press a key_to answer the call, within the short time allowed. Consequently_the call will often be terminated by_the system before the subscriber has had sufficient opportunity to take_the call, although the intention was to answer_it. Clearly this can be frustrating for_both the caller and_for_the subscriber.
EP-A-0381214 discloses a telephone in which_a_touch_sensitive_portion is provided,_for example, on_an external surface_of the_telephone itself or_at some_other remote, but_accessible