System and method for text to dialable number conversion in a mobile platform

1. A mobile platform for use in a mobile communications network, comprising:

an alphanumeric input device adapted to receive alphanumeric input from a user as an input alphanumeric string;

memory; and

a processor coupled to the alphanumeric input device and the memory, the processor operable to:

receive the input alphanumeric string;

communicate with a remote platform to replace one or more characters within the input alphanumeric string with its numeric equivalent to generate an output numeric string; and

initiate a dialed call using the output numeric string,

wherein said processor formats a message to said remote platform containing said input alphanumeric string, and wherein said remote platform returns said output numeric string to said mobile platform.

2. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a hardware alphanumeric keyboard.

3. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a software alphanumeric keyboard.

4. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric input device comprises a stroke based input device.

5. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the alphanumeric input device is remotely coupled to the mobile platform.

6. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to convert the input alphanumeric string a single character at a time as the input alphanumeric string is entered by the user.

7. The mobile platform of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to convert the input alphanumeric string after the complete input alphanumeric string is entered by the user.

8. The mobile platform of claim 1 , further comprising a display screen, and further wherein the processor is operable to display the output numeric string for viewing by the user.

9. The mobile platform of claim 1 , further comprising an internal database of input alphanumeric strings, and the processor is further operable to convert a selected one of the input alphanumeric strings from the database.

10. A method of converting an alphanumeric input string into a numeric input string for dialing a called number from within a mobile platform, the method comprising:

receiving the input alphanumeric string;

formatting a message to said remote platform containing said input alphanumeric string;

communicating with a remote platform that replaces one or more characters within the input alphanumeric string with its numeric equivalent to generate an output numeric string;

receiving an output numeric string from said remote platform; and

initiating a dialed call using the output numeric string.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a hardware alphanumeric keyboard.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a software alphanumeric keyboard.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a stroke based input device.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

converting the input alphanumeric string a single character at a time as the input alphanumeric string is entered by a user.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

converting the input alphanumeric string after the input alphanumeric string is completely entered by a user.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying the output numeric string for viewing by a user.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving the input alphanumeric string from a database of alphanumeric strings.