System and method for reducing the size of an electronic message on a mobile communication device

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic communication device, an electronic message from a sender, the electronic message including at least a sender field and a message body;

identifying the sender's address card information within the message body of the electronic message, wherein the address card information comprises text within the message body;

comparing the sender's address card information with address card information stored in a memory location in the electronic communication device;

if a match is identified between the sender's address card information and the stored address card information, then displaying a reduced version of the message on the electronic communication device by replacing the address card information of the message with an address card indicia, the address card indicia including at least one of a graphical icon and a reduced text string, wherein the reduced text string is created from the received address card information and includes a reduced portion of the text of the address card information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device is a mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the indicia has been selected by a user, and, in response, displaying additional address card information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the determining step includes modifying the address card indicia to indicate that the additional address card information is being displayed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the address card information is identified by comparing the message with text from a previously received text message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the address card information is identified by locating hidden tags included in a previously received message that identify a beginning and an end of the address card information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an indication that the address card information has not been verified by a user.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prompting for verification that the address card information is valid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sender's address card information is compared with verified address card information stored in the memory location in the electronic communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

if no match is identified between the sender's address card information and the verified address card information, then comparing the sender's address card information with unverified address card information stored in another memory location in the electronic communication device; and

if a match is identified between the sender's address card information and stored unverified address card information with a different subject line, then displaying the reduced version of the message on the electronic communication device.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

based on a match between the sender's address card information and stored unverified address card information with a different subject line, storing the sender's address card information as verified address card information.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

if no match is identified between the sender's address card information and the stored unverified address card information, then storing the sender's address card information as unverified address card information.

13. A mobile communication device comprising:

a processor;

a memory device; and

an electronic messaging module stored in the memory device and executable by the processor, the electronic messaging module being configured to:

receive an electronic message from a sender, the electronic message including at least a sender field and a message body;

identify the sender's address card information within the message body of the electronic message, wherein the address card information comprises text within the message body;

compare the sender's address card information with address card information stored in the memory device; and

if a match is identified between the sender's address card information and the stored address card information, then generate a reduced version of the message by replacing the address card information of the message with an address card indicia, the address card indicia including at least one of a graphical icon and a reduced text string, wherein the reduced text string is created from the received address card information and includes a reduced portion of the text of the address card information.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messaging module is further configured to determine that the indicia has been selected by a user, and, in response, cause additional address card information to be displayed.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic messaging module is further configured to modify the address card indicia to indicate that the additional address card information is being displayed.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the address card information is identified by comparing the message with text from a previously received text message.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the address card information is identified by locating hidden tags included in a previously received message that identify a beginning and an end of the address card information.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messaging module is further configured to prompt for verification that the address card information is valid.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messaging module is further configured to display an indication that the address card information has not been verified by a user.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13 , wherein the sender's address card information is compared with verified address card information stored in the memory device.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 20 , wherein:

if no match is identified between the sender's address card information and the verified address card information, then the electronic messaging module being configured to compare the sender's address card information with unverified address card information stored in the memory device; and

if a match is identified between the sender's address card information and stored unverified address card information with a different subject line, then the electronic messaging module generating the reduced version of the message.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21 , further comprising:

based on a match between the sender's address card information and stored unverified address card information with a different subject line, the electronic messaging module being configured to store the sender's address card information as verified address card information.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 21 , further comprising:

if no match is identified between the sender's address card information and the stored unverified address card information, then the electronic messaging module being configured to store the sender's address card information as unverified address card information.

24. A method for a mobile communication device, comprising:

wirelessly receiving a data item from a sender with the mobile communication device, the data item including address card information;

comparing an address of the sender with address information stored in a memory location in the mobile communication device; and

if a match is identified between the address of the sender and the stored address information, then the mobile communication device:

reducing the address card information to address card indicia having a portion of the address card information, the address card indicia having a smaller size than the address card information;

displaying the address card indicia on the mobile communication device; and

in response to receiving a selection of the address card indicia through a user interface, the mobile device expanding the address card indicia to display the address card information on the mobile communication device.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the address card indicia comprises a name from the address card information.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the address card indicia further comprises a graphical icon.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the address card indicia further comprises an address, a telephone number or an email address from the address card information.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch-based user interface.

29. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a communication subsystem configured to send and receive electronic messages over a communication network;

a memory subsystem configured to store data and program information;

a processing subsystem configured to store and retrieve data in the memory subsystem, execute programs stored in the memory subsystem, and cause the communication subsystem to transmit and receive data items over the communication network;

a user interface configured to display information; and

a data messaging software application stored in the memory subsystem and executable by the processing subsystem, when executed by the processing subsystem, the data messaging software application being configured to:

wirelessly receive a data item from a sender via the communication subsystem, the data item including address card information;

compare an address of the sender with address information stored in the memory subsystem; and

if a match is identified between the address of the sender and the stored address information, then

reduce the address card information to address card indicia having a portion of the address card information, the address card indicia having a smaller size than the address card information;

display an address card indicia on the mobile communication device, the address card indicia having a portion of the address card information and the address card indicia having a smaller size than the address card information; and

in response to a selection of the address card indicia via the user interface, expand the address card indicia to cause the address card information to be displayed on the mobile communication device.

30. The mobile communication device of claim 29 , wherein the address card indicia comprises a name from the address card information.

31. The mobile communication device of claim 30 , wherein the address card indicia further comprises a graphical icon.

32. The mobile communication device of claim 30 , wherein the address card indicia further comprises an address, a telephone number or an email address from the address card information.

33. The mobile communication device of claim 29 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch-based user interface.