Handheld electronic device including automatic selection of input language, and associated method

1. A method of automatically establishing an input language for a handheld electronic device that stores contact information for a plurality of contacts, comprising:

receiving a request to initiate the composition of a new message to a particular one of said contacts, said particular one of said contacts being an intended recipient of said new message;

determining whether said particular one of said contacts has a preferred input language stored by said handheld electronic device in connection therewith;

if it is determined that said particular one of said contacts has a preferred input language stored by said handheld electronic device in connection therewith, determining whether said preferred input language is different than a current input language of said handheld electronic device;

if it is determined that the preferred input language is different than the current input language, switching the current input language of said handheld electronic device to said preferred input language; and

providing a name of the current input language to a user of said handheld electronic device following said switching step;

wherein prior to said switching step said current input language is set at a default input language for said handheld electronic device, and wherein following said switching and providing steps the method further comprises determining whether the composition of said message is complete, and if the composition of said message is complete, switching said current input language of said handheld electronic device back to said default input language prior to receiving a next request to initiate the composition of a next new message.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving step further comprises receiving a selection of said particular one of said contacts.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of receiving a request is performed prior to said step of receiving a selection.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of receiving a selection is performed prior to said step of receiving a request.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said receiving step comprises creating a reply to a message received from said particular one of said contacts.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said new message is one of an email message, an SMS message and an MMS message.

7. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with said processor, said memory storing an address book application executable by said processor for storing contact information for a plurality of contacts, said memory further storing one or more routines executable by said processor, said one or more routines being adapted to:

receive a request to initiate the composition of a new message

to a particular one of said contacts, said particular one of said contacts being an intended recipient of said new message;

determine whether said particular one of said contacts has a preferred input language stored by said address book application in connection therewith;

if it is determined said particular one of said contacts has a preferred input language stored by said address book application in connection therewith, determine whether said preferred input language is different than a current input language of said handheld electronic device;

if it is determined that the preferred input language is different than the current input language, switch the current input language of said handheld electronic device to said preferred input language; and

provide an indication to a user of said handheld electronic device that the current input language is said preferred input language after the current input language has been switched to said preferred input language, the indication including a name of said preferred input language;

wherein prior to the current input language being switched to said preferred input language, the current input language is set at a default input language for said handheld electronic device and wherein the routines are adapted to, after the current input language of said handheld electronic device is switched to said preferred input language and after said indication is provided to said user, determine whether the composition of said message is complete, and if the composition of said message is complete, the routines are adapted to switch the current input language of said handheld electronic device back to said default input language prior to receiving a next request to initiate the composition of a next new message.

8. The handheld electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more routines are further adapted to receive a selection of said particular one of said contacts.

9. The handheld electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein said request is received prior to said selection.

10. The handheld electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein said selection is received prior to said request.

11. The handheld electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein said request to initiate the composition of a new message comprises a request to create a reply to a message received from said particular one of said contacts.

12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 7 , further comprising a display, wherein said indication is provided on said display.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein said indication is provided audibly.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein said new message is one of an email message, and SMS message and an MMS message.