Apparatus and method for preventing inadvertent operation of a manual input device

A wireless communication device (100) includes a manual input device (120, 122), a key lock memory (108), and a key lock processor (104). The processor (104) accesses user-programmable parameters stored in the memory (108) that define conditions for automatically disabling and also enabling commands to be issued from the manual input device (120, 122). When the processor (104) determines that the disabling condition has been met, the manual input device (120, 122) is automatically disabled, and will remain disabled until the enabling condition is met. The wireless communication device (100) may further include a timer (130) to measure elapsed time, and a display (124) to show a label indicating the status of the manual input device (120, 122). The manual input device (120, 122) of the wireless communication device (100) may be either, or both, a conventional keypad (120) or a dual-function rotatable switch (122).