Bluetooth Keyboard Speeds PDA and Smartphone Data Entry

You don't need to participate in a mobile phone short message writing contest to realize that no software algorithm can ever replace a fully featured keyboard. The best alternative would be an effective voice recognition system, but this is something we will not see for a while. PDA users have to find their way by dint of a pen and a pressure-sensitive display. Cell phones usually have a dozen keys and data input is assisted by software such as T9, iTAP or Multitap that presents likely word options as each key is pressed. ThinkOutside wants to change this and offers a portable keyboard that connects wirelessly via Bluetooth.

We received our review unit from a company in Germany called Pearl Agency, but the same piece of hardware is globally available as the General Keys Smart Keyboard. It is available in the USA as the ThinkOutside Stowaway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard.

Inside the box we found the space saving highly portable foldable keyboard, a carrying pouch, a driver CD and a short manual. Striking the keys feels pretty much like typing on an average laptop or notebook keyboard, but there is no numeric section and there are no function keys. Special characters and arrow keys are there.

We found operating the keyboard to be no big deal. However, installation and compatibility led to some serious concerns.