Nokia files patent for side-sliding mobile phone with QWERTY keyboard

Here’s an interesting tidbit from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). We stumbled across this patent application, from none other than Nokia (NYSE: NOK), that outlines a method to incorporate a “turn and slide” display that tilts upward to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. Now, there have been numerous sliding-screen designs in an effort to combine the full-face screen (touchscreen in some cases) with a full, comfortably-sized QWERTY keyboard – there’s the inimitable Sidekick flip-display (Motorola (NYSE: MOT) Sidekick Slide excepted), the HTC Kaiser’s (AT&T Tilt) slide-up and tilting display, and the laterally opening design on the Nokia E90 and HTC Omni. With all that competition, you would think Nokia would want to design a unique way to combine the full-face display with a QWERTY keyboard – and you’d be right.

The USPTO patent application reveals Nokia’s intention to use a rotating “knob” on one end of the device that, when rotated, will slide the display to the side and tilt it upward for convenient viewing – unveiling a full QWERTY keyboard underneath. Interestingly, Nokia’s design sketches seem to hint at a full-touchscreen setup – indicated by the lack of buttons on the front-face of the device. Could this be destined to be part of Nokia’s S60 Touch lineup? A touch-based S60 device with a sliding and tilting display and a full QWERTY keyboard? Be still our beating hearts. We’re not sure if this patent application will actually materialize in the real-world, but we sure hope it will. Maybe Nokia will see fit to include some Haptikos haptic feedback as well? Fingers crossed.

[Via: Unwired View]