A Real Keyboard for the iPhone?

By Roy Furchgott

The most frequent complaint I hear about the iPhone is its lack of a physical keyboard.

Mobile

Toronto-based Mobile Mechatronics said it has taken care of that by building a BlackBerry-style keyboard that attaches to an iPhone.

iPhone keyboard

The keyboard has a short kind of sleeve that you slide the phone into. It attaches to the phone’s battery port to draw power for the keyboard. It slides on and off and no special software is required to use it.

The keyboard was originally intended as a training device, said Mike Nykoluk, a founder of Mobile Mechatronics. It was designed to help people transition from a physical keyboard to the iPhone’s virtual keyboard by training them where the virtual keys are and to build muscle memory.

The idea came from Nykoluk’s own experience in changing from one BlackBerry to another. “I always found when I got a new Blackberry, I hated the new keyboard” said Mr. Nykoluk. “Then in a week, it was the best keyboard ever.”

He thought that people just needed a way to get used to the virtual keys of the iPhone. But beta testers often chose to keep using the physical keyboard, he said.

The keyboard will sell for $30 with $5 shipping to the United States. There are prototypes in beta test now that have rubber keyboards. The final version will be made of hard plastic, said Mr. Nykoluk.

The keyboard is available for pre-order and should become available around November, said Mr. Nykoluk.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

David September 16, 2009 · 7:49 pm

Ugly and pointless, if you want a keyboard buy a different phone. What about landscape?

Completely misses the point of the iPhone.

People need to get used to new technology, maybe haptic feedback will come to the iPhone to help the struggling few.

LADinLA September 16, 2009 · 9:19 pm

Do you have any stats on how the keyboard effects battery life? I only get a few hours of active use before needing a charge on my iPhone, so anything that causes more than a tiny bit of battery drain would be out of the question.

iGenius September 17, 2009 · 7:35 am

This is foolish. The keyboard on the iPhone is the best keyboard on any device. Everybody I know loves it and can type MUCH faster on their iPhone than on any other keyboard.

Rob S. September 17, 2009 · 9:11 am

This is the single stupidest “Gadget” ever featured here.

Robinson Mason September 17, 2009 · 9:32 am

The premise that a touch screen is a psychological barrier to overcome, or can be overcome with “muscle memory” is flawed. There is a reason that in the early 1980s we did not switch over to the flat, featureless membrane keyboards used on computers such as the Timex Sinclair 1000. Borders between keys should be raised and tactile for quick typing. It’s why the typical PC keyboard has not changed much from the typewriter.

Larry September 17, 2009 · 9:55 am

I have never had a problem with the virtual keyboard on my iPhone. I know several people with iPhones and they all love the virtual keyboard. With the latest update allowing the keyboard to be used in landscape mode, I find it even easier. However, I also know several Black Berry “power users” who swear by the physical keyboard. Vanilla and chocolate I suppose.

MT September 17, 2009 · 10:46 am

Hilarious … This thing looks like a diaper, and a dirty one at that.

alan mushnick September 17, 2009 · 12:52 pm

Originally I thought this was a downside trade off for the iphone. But almost two years later if I try to use my wife’s blackberry to answer a text for her I now find the physical keyboard difficult to use.
I am used to the iphone virtual keyboard and I can use it as readily as I used to use the treo physical keys.
There isn’t a worry about moisture or dust either.

Mark E. September 17, 2009 · 3:18 pm

@David: For landscape you have to unplug this attachment and switch to the landscape attachment! But you’re right, it completely misses the point. When I saw the headline, I was thinking it was going to be something like the old tri-fold keyboard for the early Palms.

killstead September 17, 2009 · 4:46 pm

so you gotta strap this thing on every time you need a keyboard and then take it off so you can tap on the bottom part of the screen? #fail

Brian B September 17, 2009 · 6:18 pm

I agree with many of the comments that say – “what’s the point?” Replacing a tiny keyboard with a tiny keyboard that is a bit more tactile isn’t really all that helpful.

What would be useful is a full-size wireless compact keyboard. I had one for my Palm back in the day and it was an invaluable tool. The iPhone is an incredibly powerful computer, and would be a viable Netbook if it had a reasonable size input device.

Troy September 17, 2009 · 7:12 pm

I have an iPod Touch and I find the virtual keyboard to be problematic. Every time I type a sentence I hit the wrong letters on several words. Everything else I love about the Ipod Touch. Jobs needs to work on the keyboard and properly apple-ize it.

Gene September 17, 2009 · 10:29 pm

Counter-intuitive. Obtuse. Counter-productive. Eye sore. Screen Hog. Backwards. Retrograde. Stooh-pehd…! Yada x 3.

Sane Person September 17, 2009 · 11:43 pm

iGenius, you’re the most intelligent person i’ve ever heard of on the internet.

Joanna N. September 18, 2009 · 9:10 am

You know you have any stats on how the keyboard effects battery life? I only get a few hours of active use before needing a charge on my iPhone, so anything that causes THE battery TO drain!!!!!!!!!

Sylvie September 18, 2009 · 9:37 am

Yes, I was hoping for a tri-fold keyboard like the old Palms. While texting and quick notes are fine with the iPhone keyboard, it’s not practical for real meeting notes or real work in spaces of time. With a tri-fold type “real” keyboard, the iPhone would essentially take the place of a netbook or a notebook – that would be a huge advantage…

hnorris September 18, 2009 · 9:50 am

Many people find virtual keyboards difficult to use – Iphone virtual keyboard would be much better if there were a way to adjust the sensitivity – it’s much too easy to accidentally hit the wrong key! Also, Apple should really consider an iphone model with a slide out physical keyboard, which would be the best of both worlds.

Eloe23 September 18, 2009 · 11:43 am

compleatly misses the point of the iPhone. Jest get another phone if you want a keyboard

Dr. Ladd September 18, 2009 · 12:36 pm

Awe how cute, iPhone training wheels for BlackBerry converts. What an asinine concept. The iPhone’s virtual keypad, which now permits landscape mode on most all applications, coupled with the amazingly intelligent auto corrector is so elegant. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to use such a brutish and primitive peripheral?

Paul Travis October 31, 2009 · 1:01 pm

As comedian Steven Wright pointed out: “You can’t have everything; where would you put it?”

Here’s a Halloween treat for those of you who know a keyboard was needed but were unsure iTwinge is the answer…

A client of mine is finalizing an add-on physical keyboard that’s only 3 mm thick; leaves power/docking connection free; has all the keys like the virtual keyboard; and it LOOKS like it was designed by Apple. Can’t say anything more yet but look for it at Macworld ;)

Bucky November 28, 2009 · 10:23 pm

Misses the point of the iPhone? I think the iPhone misses the point of people. And I’m a big Apple fan, wouldn’t trade my MacBook Pro laptop for anything, but I suffer through having a Blackberry and a Mac when I’d much rather go all Apple. Why? Because after trying the iPhone the BB is still much more productive and bulletproof in global business ops AND you can type much faster on its keyboard.

I have associates that struggle with the iPhone for business and I get out twice the content in half the time with the BB. An iPhone user is lucky to manage a two sentence reply to an email.

But the bigger issue is having a designer (in this case Jobs) dictating, or wanting to dictate, to others how they should live or work. A phone for the road really should have a replaceable battery, but that wasn’t elegant enough for Apple. A phone meant for answering email should also have the most workable, productive keyboard possible in the small form factor. Again, not elegant enough for Apple.

Form over function. That’s what happened. And let’s not even start on the failure of their data compression (or lack thereof).

Jay December 8, 2009 · 10:26 pm

Interesting discusssion thread. One way to think about improving the keyboard is allowing what a “key” can access content..??

I just saw a new iphone AP , “Lightning Remarks”, it speeds up keyboard use by 5-10X. Its cool, it has 1000’s of pre stored remarks that , when replying to emails/texts (or creating new ones) you select categories and sub categories and you have available list of neat replies or messages. In 2-3 keystrokes you get 2-3 sentences remarks.Beauty is, it paste right back in emails. This is a cool idea for iphone users who want to speed up the keyboard use.

You can also add your own categories and remarks, this is limitless!