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ION iType brings a full-size keyboard to the iPhone

by Mike Schramm Jan 8th 2010 at 6:00PM

So far, only the jailbreakers have been able to pair up a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPhone, but ION is working on a hardware solution -- they're showing off what's basically a dock at CES that has a full-size keyboard connected to it. Very interesting. Of course, it makes the iPhone a lot bigger (though their marketing says it's for travelers who want a little something less than a full laptop computer -- if only there was a device released to fill that need), but it's also battery-charged, so it'll recharge your handheld while allowing you to type out emails and messages on a full keyboard.

The price is supposed to be "slightly more than $100," and a release is set for the second quarter of 2010. If you've wanted to use a full-size keyboard with the iPhone but haven't gone for the jailbreak, we'll keep an eye on the release for you.

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Hardware Peripherals Portables iPhone

So far, only the jailbreakers have been able to pair up a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPhone, but ION is working on a hardware solution...
 

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Joey

Why?

January 10 2010 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jennifer

I want a roll-up keyboard to connect with my iPhone. I don't understand why Apple isn't giving us this feature. /whine

January 09 2010 at 6:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ned

laughably bad!

January 09 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DarkPrince

Utterly pointless, why use that big ass ugly keyboard when you can only use it on its own dedicated app. I dont know about other people but I dont think I'd be that desperate to type out an entire novel on my iphone to warrant buying this. Might as well get a netbook.

January 09 2010 at 6:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

I am in the minority, but I think this warrants at least a look if I ever run across a demo model.

January 09 2010 at 1:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wyden

Finally, an external keyboard for my iPhone. I wonder why Apple is so insensitive to us who need a keyboard.

January 08 2010 at 11:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Charles R Hamilton

27 years later, we have come full circle...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Model_100

January 08 2010 at 9:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
glad

utterly pointless

January 08 2010 at 7:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Adam Ko

Why would anyone bother to buy this if you can do the same thing wirelessly using bluetooth with a much cheaper Apple Wireless Keyboard?

January 08 2010 at 7:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leskern

Nope.... not interested. The whole allure of this phone is all about mobility. I have a freakin' laptop and desktop.

January 08 2010 at 6:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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