Comments on: Why is there no iPhone Bluetooth keyboard?

An external keyboard seems like a simple and logical accessory for those looking to do some heavy text inputting on their iPhones. But Apple's been mum on when--or if--it will support external keyboards.

[caffemisto]

we need something like the snapntype thumb board that was used with the ipaq. no bluetooth required, just snap/dock the iphone to the thumb board when needed. this accessory would definitely sell and it could be made so it blends in with the iphone when in use.

[addenmobbs]

The iPhone is not currently capable of connecting two bluetooth devices at the same time, while you can pair them and the phone will remember the profiles, only 1 device can be active at any given time. Also, by design, when audio sources change the audio pauses briefly so you cannot timeslice the connection either. For those of us that use bluetooth headsets this is an important hurdle they need to fix before a wireless keyboard is an actual option.

[Dbenson9876]

I used an igo Bluetooth keyboard with my blackberry pearl for two years before switching to an iPhone 3gs. I had to find a hacked Bluetooth driver to get it working properly, but when I finally got it working it increased my typing productivity by 4 or 5 times. And, more than any other piece of technology I've ever owned I got more comments and had more people stop and ask where I got it and where they could get one.

I wish it worked with the iPhone. Some people may be able to type just as fast on the iPhone keyboard as a full size keyboard, but most people can not. For the times iPhone users are sitting in a coffee shop catching up on emails, an igo style Bluetooth keyboard would be a great addition.

My guess as to why there isn't one already available, is that the Bluetooth pairing APIs are not working well yet.

Apple, please help your third party accessory developers create a wireless keyboard for your awesome device. Based on my informal, but real life market study, it would be a very welcome accessory.

[snoutmeat]

My wife has an iPhone; I have an "inferior" Windows smartphone. Almost every time I use my wife's phone, I'm jealous about how much more powerful it is than my phone. The apps are great; the screen is awesome...but when I whip out my tiny portable bluetooth keyboard and start typing as quickly as on my desktop, the iPhone suddenly seems very inferior. I was just searching/shopping for a similar solution for my wife's iPhone, and I'm shocked to see that it doesn't exist. What a glaring omission!

Macworld is not "defunct." There should be a correction issued.

Macworld Expo will be in Feb 2010...check out their site for more info: http://macworldexpo.com/

[biobot]

You said: "Some have suggested that by enabling external keyboards Apple would be admitting that its virtual keyboard is less than perfect, but that seems too silly and vain to be true."

You haven't met silly and vain until you've met (gasp) Steve Jobs). I used to work for Apple. Remember the early Macs with their crappy keyboards (no function keys) and a single button mouse? At Apple's internal sales meeting where the Mac was rolled out Steve and Bill Gates argued over whether offering keyboard shortcuts to Mac commands will be unMac. Steve argued that the Mac would never be popular with touch typists since he was adamantly opposed to function keys and especially KB shortcuts.

Gates argued that we should make it a menu option and let the customer decide. Jobs was incensed with the idea. He *always* thinks he knows what is best. There are no Bluetooth drivers because Jobs is too "pure" to allow his baby to be bastardized by even permitting a keyboard to be connected.

[Snick97223]

I think Apple wants to preserve some marketing "breathing room" for an upcoming tablet-style or portable mini-computer. If they added full BT support or released BT API, then a large third-party list of vendors would begin making accessories for iPhones because an iPhone IS a mini-computer.

Basically, Apple is afraid to kill off potential sales of a future mini-computer by canibalism.

But I really, REALLY wish they would reconsider since I don't think people in the potential market for mini tablet computers would downgrade to an iPhone with external keyboard. I can't afford or justify to pay the $999 they're likely to charge for a tablet/mini. I just need a very simple mini-computer/phone for my son to do his homework on. If you're afraid you can't make money since ATT would presumably get most of the residual revenues from such an approach, then you need to strong-arm ATT into cutting you into the residual revenue stream for those with keyboard support.

In other words, make external keyboard support a premium feature. I can afford to pay $30/month for a data plan that supports my son's homework needs and also is his phone. I already have a 3GS for myself @ $95/month. Talk to ATT and get yourself a cut of that $30/month and there you have a workable business case with a garunteed residual revenue stream.

GET CREATIVE, DAMMIT, and stop making whiny excuses.

PLEASE reconsider, Apple.