Foldaway QWERTY Keyboard for Cell Phones

ATELAB Research has developed a new cellular phone with enhanced text editing capabilities. The phone will be equipped with a newly developed interface called Enhanced eDition Interface Terminal (EDiT). When EDiT is not in use, i.e. with its keypad concealed, a phone equipped with this interface looks like a traditional cellular phone. The primary numerical keypad enables making and receiving calls, and provides full support of menu, voice mail, SMS, EMS just like any other ordinary cellular phone.

The innovation is an additional alphanumerical keypad that slides out from the phone. The user holds the phone in one hand and enters text with his other hand on the additional alphanumerical keypad. In case of an incoming call, the additional keypad can be retracted with one move and the conversation can begin, just like in a traditional cellular phone.

The EDiT interface also facilitates the use of WAP service and the phone's build-in calendar and organizer features. Depending on the phone's version, the additional alphanumerical keypad can be extracted in the same way as a blade from a pocketknife, or connected as an accessory on an arm under the phone.

Presently intensive tests of the interface's prototype are in progress, although no details of any commercial parties was disclosed."

Posted to the site on 25th March 2003