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Sony Ericsson files for patent on programmable touchscreen keypad

By: , IntoMobile
Friday, September 14th, 2007 at 8:27 PM

Sony Ericsson patent application for reconfigurable programmable keypad

Touchscreens are all that, and a bag of chips. Apple showed the world what we knew all along – touchscreens are essential to the smartphone experience, and everyone from LG to Nokia is jumping on the touch-bandwagon. The newest entrant into the touchscreen realm seems to be Sony Ericsson is going to try their hand at a touchscreen twist. They’ve just filed with the USPTO for a patent on a “programmable keypad” – a reconfigurable, touchscreen-based keypad.

From the images in the patent filing, we can see that the keypad below the actual display is basically a touchscreen that can change based on the current function – making a phone call, inputing text, editing contacts, connecting to a mobile application (online banking, in this case).

Props to Sony Ericsson for going the reconfigurable touchscreen route for their keypad. We like the idea of turning the keypad into a supplemental display, rather than making the display an interactive touchscreen.

We can’t wait to see what Sony Ericsson brings to the table with an actual device based on this patent application. Although, as these things go, SE could just as easily scrape the idea altogether – but we’re pretty confident that they’ll bring this to market.

Sony Ericsson patent application for reconfigurable programmable keypad

Update: revised to clarify that Sony Ericsson isn’t new to touchscreen technology – we’re huge fans of the SE P990i.

[Via: Unwired View]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • thefanboy

    Please sonyericsson touch screen existed atleast one year before iphone. please verify the facts before you write.

  • Lal

    Sony Ericsson or Ericsson has been into touch screen technology since 2003 with models like P800. Actually iPhone is the last one joining the bandwagon; but they managed to convince the americans (not surprised eh?) that they are the first one to do that. Moreover most of the iPhone functions are already present in Nokia and Sony Ericsson models, for your information sir!!!