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Research In Motion Hopes to Patent “Angular Keyboard” for BlackBerry Devices

5:25 am on December 31, 2007 | Category: Business, Law, Mobile Devices, PDAs

Wireless device maker, Research In Motion, is working on a new keyboard design for its BlackBerry smartphones that would make typing easier and more efficient.

The company recently applied for a patent on what it describes as an â€œangular keyboardâ€ where the keys are set at a 45-degree angle to the base of the unit. This design will allow for larger, more easily pressed keys than on traditional smartphones, and should ease the strain on hands and thumbs during extended typing sessions, according to RIM’s application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

A sketch of RIM’s proposal is available at PinStack.com’s BlackBerry Forums.

The â€œangular keyboardâ€ technology probably won’t be ready in time for use with the first BlackBerry 9000 devices (due in early 2008), but there is nothing stopping RIM from incorporating it with future upgrades of the BlackBerry Curve or 8800 models.

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