BlackBerry With Slide-Out Keyboard Patent Published

by Robb Dunewood on February 28, 2008 · 25 comments

The title to this post is pretty much self explanatory. A slide-out keyboard BlackBerry patent, urrr, the Hybrid Portrait-Landscape Handheld Device With Trackball Navigation and Qwerty Hideaway Keyboard, was published earlier today.

I so hope that this next-generation BlackBerry patent is actually something that Research in Motion actually builds. I have been wanting a BlackBerry Slider for a long time now.

BlackBerry


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  • REV

    Looks nice, but if they truly want to make this an iPod-ish option for BB users, I hope they go the distance and replace the crappity browser and media player. I know that’s supposed to happen, but I worry that it might just be a fresh coat of paint on an old house, y’know?

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  • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

    Agreed Rev,

    I don’t necessarily see this slide-out keyboard design as a direct response to the iPhone, however the BlackBerry Browser and possibly the BlackBerry OS must be completely overhauled to give this device a web browsing experience which won’t completely suck compared Safari on the iPhone. I don’t think that it has to be as good as Safari. RIM cannot out Apple Apple. It must, however, be something orders of magnitude better than what the BlackBerry has now.

  • jonabyte

    I’ve never liked those types of phones, more moving parts means more chance of breaking down.

  • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

    I am sure the RIM can find a way to build them sturdy.

  • REV

    I don’t think the slide-out is an iPhone response, but the landscape orientation and touch-screen sure is, no?

    Not that other phones don’t use a landscape/touchscreen combo, or didn’t use one before the iPhone. But I think the timing of this design says it all.

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  • hellno

    jonabyte,

    I agree the extra UI space a slider allows is nice in idea but found every slider from various smartphones to Nokia N series, when the slider is out it makes typing on the move close to impossible. Slides and flips throw the balance of the device off and instead of a one handed device your forced into having to use both hands. A problem our Blackberry’s UI never had a problem with.

    Robb another thread and another couple mentions of the iPhone. Very Interesting. When are you upgrading RIMarkable to iPhonemarkable? http://www.rimarkable.com/archives/category/iphone :) Everyone does need to keep in mind the iPhone is a handheld computer, not just a smartphone. Knowing that the iPhone and any Blackberry can’t be compared. There is a reason why Apple designed the iPhone without flips or slides, I think we’d agree Apple has experience making devices sturdy too, but slides and flips IMO are a crutch when it comes to mobile device design. IMO RIM is moving in the wrong direction with this slide-out keyboard patent.

    iPhone to gain better Exchange, Lotus Notes support at SDK event
    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/02/28/iphone_to_gain_better_exchange_lotus_notes_support_at_sdk_event.html

    “RIM cannot out Apple Apple”

  • http://www.rimarkable.com Robb Dunewood

    Hellno,

    RIMarkable won’t be going anywhere any time soon. I am, however, toying with the idea of starting an iphone centric sister site to RIMarkable.

    No doubt that we talk about iPhones here, but, usually from a how they relate to the blackberry kind of way.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Now the slider is certainly something that would be of interest. Larger keyboards would certainly do the trick, and seeing one the size of the Pearl would no doubt be a big seller. To look like a phone, yet have a slide out keyboard without increasing it’s overall size (but increasing the screen size by utilizing the slide out keyboard) would sell me in a heartbeat. I’m guessing here the screen would be a touch screen. How else would you dial without opening the slider.

  • FrozenCricket

    maybe it’s for a potential 4G device? as much as I like the design I doubt it will be something we see in the near future.

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  • AF

    They can make sliders all they want. Just please RIM keep the current styles in the mix. I really have no interest in a slider phone. I like taking my blackberry out and being able to type on it without moving any parts. I agree with whoever said RIM is going in the wrong direction.

  • Thought

    I agree with AF; RIM can experiment with these copycat designs all they want, but let me at least keep an 83xx type model.

    I have never tried out a slider that worked well. And hearing from people who use them, it is true they break, and are not as nice to type on as the standard BB design.

    Also, of course, the thickness of the device increases; it basically doubles that dimension from its standard size.

    Now, I also realize the old saying, different strokes for different folks, and that is why I like what AF said…if RIM wants to copy HTC, Apple, whoever, they can do it, but just let us keep some more traditional models in the mix, add in 3g, a better browser, etc.

  • hellno

    What’s interesting is if you look at most of the HTC sliders you see devices which are very close to the sketch above which RIM submitted for a patent, some almost exact.

    Also IF RIM puts a touchscreen on this device what the heck is the trackball still there for?

    IMO the iPhone more than shows Apple’s touch screen technology can handle quick and reliable text input. Given time to learn typing on a virtual keyboard becomes just as fast, if not faster than typing on smartphone sized keys. “different strokes for different folks” but it’s much like going from thumb wheel to trackball it’s change, it innovation. Adding a slider is change, but IMO can’t be called a innovation.

  • hellno

    uht oh….

    RIM patents a QWERTY slider, HTC lawyers perk up their ears
    http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/29/rim-patents-a-qwerty-slider-htc-lawyers-perk-up-their-ears/

    “Nice going RIM, you’ve successfully filed for a patent on a device that companies like HTC have been making since 2005. That’s right folks, your friends at Research In Motion have just thrown an application in the direction of the US Patent Office which should look painfully familiar. The company is calling it a “Hybrid Portrait-Landscape Handheld Device With Trackball Navigation and QWERTY Hide-Away Keyboard,” but we’re calling it the Wizard. We suppose it’s possible that the BlackBerry-maker has something up its sleeve that goes beyond the typical functionality of a phone like this, but nothing in the application seemed to indicate such a scenario. Did RIM even check out the competition before issuing this paperwork? It seems unlikely given the obvious and commonly used shape and design of this particular handset… oh, wait, this one has a trackball. Okay, our bad.”

  • Amy

    The only thing I hafta to say is if I wanted a slider phone I wouldve bought a Sidekick and not a BB Curve.

  • Thought

    RIM needs to be careful to not be seen as copying others designs. They have always been known as being a leader, not a follower. They do not need to copy HTC, or even Apple, for that matter.

    Also, at some point, RIM needs to realize that it will not have the entire market. They need to realize that what they do well…wireless email, stability of OS, good portable keyboard, security for corporations,govt…is their niche, and it’s quite a market. They should not make the mistake of other companies in trying to become all things to all people.

    RIM needs to build on what it does best, and not be seen as desperate to copy the competition. Fortunately, at this point, these are just patents and many patents never make it into production.

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  • BKuglin

    My personal phone is the old “V” from Verizon/LG. I’ve never kept a phone for more than 6 months until I got this one, and have had it for over 2 years. I am very rough on my things, yet this flip open phone has held up perfectly! If LG can make a strong-enough flip-phone, I’m sure that RIM will make a slide-out twice as strong. Maybe it’s a generational difference(I’m 24), but I absolutely cannot wait for this model. I can type on my qwerty phone as fast as most people can type on a keyboard. True, it does take 2 hands to type well, so it might not be great for road warriors and city drivers. Can’t wait RIM! Any idea of a proposed release date?

  • JJ

    I think people are losing sight of what RIM is trying to bring to market. They want to bring people a better browsing experience, larger screen, and appeal to the masses. RIM will continue to come out with smaller run-of-the-mill Blackberries for the sake of security, simplicity, and people who only need one thing, email. This is a device for people that want to browse at 3G speeds and have a large screen to do it. I owned an iPhone and traded back to a Curve, iPhone email stinks, but their internet was amazing. RIM knows there users would benefit from a better internet experience while holding on to a tangible keyboard. Dumb? Not a chance, they will capture HTC fans who hate WM and iPhone users who can’t stand spending 20 minutes typing a 200 word email.

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  • Lisa v

    I can’t wait for the landscape slideout by BB. I just hope Verizon users will have access to it unlike the BB torch.

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