ABBREVIATED AND ENHANCED DIALING APPARATUS AND METHODS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR CELLULAR OR OTHER TYPES OF TELEPHONE SYSTEMS

An abbreviated dialing apparatus especially suitable for cellular/mobile phone use, enabling a user to dial telephone numbers having repetitive digits without directly dialing all of the repetitive digits. The user, by executing a prescribed actuation of a prescribed key, such as the SEND key, can cause the system to complete an incomplete telephone number having repetitive finishing zeroes or other repetitive finishing digits, instead of directly dialing all of the repetitive digits. By determining whether a call is local or long distance, the apparatus determines the number of digits necessary to properly complete a telephone number and completes the number by filling in any missing finishing digits. Alternatively, the user by actuating a finish digit key or a finish zero key can cause the system to similarly fill in any missing finishing digits to complete an incomplete telephone number.