A portable electronic device that allows a user to dial a telephone number using a virtual rotary dial pad configuration. The device includes a physically depressible touch screen display. Speed dialing is enabled by touching and dragging a selected numeric or non-numeric symbol to a predetermined location on the touch screen display and by holding the selected symbol at the predetermined location for a predetermined duration of time. Successful dialing of a symbol results in tactile, audio or visual feedback. Touching and dragging selected symbols may be replaced by touching the selected symbol and physically depressing the touch screen. Both numeric and non-numeric symbols may be dialed.