It's normal. That's why the lights for those buttons are powered separately...so that they can be left on during a call. It makes sense that the "phone" buttons are on when you are using the bb in "phone mode." It's like how the keyboard lights are on when you are using the bb as a pda.
I think they do that because there are many multitasking options you could do during a call, so they want you to be able to see the buttons even if its dark.
Well I wish they'd put a proximity sensor or something so when its held up to your head the screen and the backlighting will turn off, and when you pull it away from your head to maybe take notes or something, the screen and backlighting will come back to life. That's how it was with my Touch pro 2.
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I totally agree 100% why would I need the buttons to be lit when the phones on the side of my head? It makes no sense. I wouldn't mind it though if the phones in my hand, that way I can see! But I mean after a while we know where every button is located. Hmmm...who knows? lol