A wireless terminal or other type of user terminal in a communication system
is
configured so as to be permitted to enter an enhanced feature access mode based
at least in part on a communication of designated information between the user
terminal and a corresponding switch of the system. The designated information may
comprise, e.g., a feature access code associated with the enhanced feature access
mode and entered by a user at the user terminal, or a pre-specified signal transmitted
from the user terminal to the switch of the system. When in the enhanced feature
access mode, the user terminal is provided with navigation and activation mechanisms
which utilize a keypad of the user terminal in conjunction with a display of the
user terminal to provide access to features of the communication system from the
user terminal. For example, the navigation and activation mechanisms may each utilize
disjoint subsets of a given set of keys on a terminal keypad, e.g., an otherwise
conventional 12-key keypad.
