Network selection user interface for wireless devices

1 . A method for selecting a wireless network for a wireless device comprising:

receiving a command from a user through a clickable thumbwheel and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display of the wireless device to scan for and identify available networks;

displaying a choice of the available networks on the display; and,

receiving a command from the user through the clickable thumbwheel and the GUI to switch operation of the wireless device from a current network to an available network in the choice of the available networks.

2 . The method of claim 1 and further comprising displaying a choice of modes for selecting the wireless network.

3 . The method of claim 2 and further comprising determining the choice of modes in response to a current network type.

4 . The method of claim 3 and further comprising receiving a command from the user through the clickable thumbwheel and the GUI to select a mode from the choice of modes.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the choice of modes includes an automatic mode for automatically scanning for and identifying the available networks and for automatically selecting one of the available networks.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the choice of the available networks are items in a menu.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the menu has at least one icon to identify at least one of the current network, a home network, and a forbidden network.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the GUI has a button for receiving the command to scan for and identify available networks.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the GUI has a menu having a menu item for receiving the command from a user to switch operation of the wireless device from the current network to the available network.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the menu has a menu item for adding the available network to a preferred network list.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the menu has a menu item for displaying a preferred network list.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device has a keyboard for selecting items in the GUI to generate commands.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the keyboard is one of a QWERTY keyboard, a modified QWERTY keyboard, a Dvorak keyboard, and a predictive text keyboard.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless network is a wireless carrier.

15 . A computer program product having a computer readable medium tangibly embodying computer executable code for directing a wireless device to select a wireless network, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving a command from a user through a clickable thumbwheel and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display of the wireless device to scan for and identify available networks;

code for displaying a choice of the available networks on the display; and,

code for receiving a command from the user through the clickable thumbwheel and the GUI to switch operation of the wireless device from a current network to an available network in the choice of the available networks.

16 . The computer program product of claim 15 and further comprising code for displaying a choice of modes for selecting the wireless network.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 and further comprising code for determining the choice of modes in response to a current network type.

18 . A wireless device operable on a wireless network, comprising:

a processor coupled to memory and an interface to the wireless network and adapted for:

receiving a command from a user through a clickable thumbwheel and a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display of the wireless device to scan for and identify available networks;

displaying a choice of the available networks on the display; and,

receiving a command from the user through the clickable thumbwheel and the GUI to switch operation of the wireless device from a current network to an available network in the choice of the available networks.

19 . The wireless device of claim 18 wherein the processor is further adapted for displaying a choice of modes for selecting the wireless network.

20 . The wireless device of claim 19 wherein the processor is further adapted for determining the choice of modes in response to a current network type.