It Isn't A Smart Phone, If It Ain't Got A Keyboard

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.forbes.com/columnists/free_forbes/2004/1004/113.html' target='_blank'>http://www.forbes.com/columnists/free_forbes/2004/1004/113.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"If it doesn't have a keyboard, it isn't a Smartphone. That's my ironclad rule when it comes to mobile handsets that deliver e-mail and Web access along with voice calls. You've got to be nuts if you try to do serious e-mail by pressing the 2 key three times for the letter C. But a keyboard alone won't make a phone truly smart."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/keyboards.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Stephen Manes' Forbes article talks about the four smart phones being offered by T-Mobile. And no, T-Mobile SDA is not mentioned. :-( All of the devices mentioned in the article offer an input mechanism different from the numeric keypad found on regular phones (and Microsoft Smartphones). I agree that having an easier text input mechanism can make our lives easier. But I feel that the author is forgetting that <i>smart phones are supposed to be phones first.</i> And that they are meant for everyone. Sure, the smart phones are capable of handling E-Mail and surfing the internet, but that's not the only thing they can do. They can play music and videos. They can play games. They can carry your contacts, calendar and to-do list. These activities do not require a proper keyboard. And everyone does not use them for E-Mail and internet. I am glad that Stephen mentioned <i>"But a keyboard alone won't make a phone truly smart."</i> So what makes a phone <i>smart?</i><br /> <!> <br />User interface, screen size, storage, add-on software, size of the phone, its form factor and above all, the level of customization possible must be considered. This is on top of the earlier capabilities I mentioned. Smart phones are meant for everyone. Right now I know that the smart phones are mostly being used by enterprise users and by people familiar with technology. Mostly because of the cost and also because of the certain level of complexity associated with these devices. But because of the current user base, we must not define smart phones as devices that must have keyboards. I am sure that the smart phone cost will come down as the volumes increase. And general population will start adopting them once these devices become cheaper,..<i>ahem</i>..stable and people realize that these devices are not complex. Right now the power and flexibility offered by these devices, make these devices seem complex to the ordinary users. I am sure that the general population wants a phone that can carry their contacts, calendar and maybe some of their favourite songs. And of course, they may want to check their E-Mails and surf the internet. The may want to be able to add an application or two, to customize their phone according to their daily needs. Like having a navigation software or a dictionary or a weather application. All these features must to be delivered in a form factor that is close to today's regular phone. So that we can still carry them in our pockets. ;-) That is why I feel a <i>smart phone</i> is defined as a phone that is capable of adapting to our lifestyles.<br /><br />Smart phones with keyboards is a good idea. But they should be aimed at heavy data users. Not every one needs to reply to a ton of E-Mails. And SMS's should be just short messages and not require keyboards. :-) I feel that for most scenarios, a good T9 implementation is good. And innovations like BlackBerry <a href="http://www.blackberry.com/products/suretype/index.shtml">SureType</a> and voice recognition are the steps in the right direction. But having a full blown QWERTY keyboard is not required on <i>all</i> smart phones. Another reason why I would not want a keyboard on <i>all</i> the smart phones is because I know that I would spend way too much time replying to E-Mails or surfing. ;-) Right now when I check my E-Mails, the lack of keyboard forces me to answer only the important ones and prevents me from being a workaholic or <i>E-Mailaholic.</i> And in the end, I must add that I am not trying to protect Microsoft's decision. Or supporting the current crop of Microsoft Smartphones' input mechanism. <br /><br />What do you think? Am I right in my beliefs? So should the <i>Smart Phone</i> have a keyboard?

[Ben]

So what makes a phone smart?
* * * * *
That is why I feel a smart phone is defined as a phone that is capable of adapting to our lifestyles.
* * * * *
What do you think? Am I right in my beliefs? So should the Smart Phone have a keyboard?

Try this as an operating definition for a smartphone: I believe a smartphone is a phone (1) that successfully merges a number of different features and (2) is highly customizable.

That is why a certain amount of complexity is necessary for a phone to be smart. If you can't change the ring-tone, screen images, and install third-party applications (whatever games, applications, and tweaks you want), then how smart is your phone, really?

And the more convergence of features, the smarter the phone is. Thus having a keyboard helps improve the integration of a few features (better email, easier input of data for task lists, calendars, etc.)

The perfect smartphone would do all of the following and be highly customizable: (1) function as a cell phone, (2) play large amounts of music (.mp3, .wma, etc.), (3) take digital pictures and video, (4) play games effectively, (4) serve well for sending and receiving email, (5) browse the internet at high speeds, (6) allow for reading eBooks, (7) allowing for viewing videos and television, (8) function as a voice recorder/dictaphone, (9) act as a global positioning system, and (10) allow productive use of other software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and databases. Combine those features with multiple means of communication (bluetooth, GSM, GPRS, IR, Wi-Fi, mini-USB) and you have yourself a pretty smart phone in my opinion.

Smart in the smartphone world is not a black and white issue (or a binary switch, in the language of you techies out there). It is a spectrum with some devices being smart, but perhaps not as smart as others. Having a keyboard helps, but it is not dispositive; I prefer smaller devices without them, but still hope for a better alternative.

[Mike Temporale]

What do you think? Am I right in my beliefs? So should the Smart Phone have a keyboard?

While I'm not against having a keyboard on my smartphone, I do understand it's not for everyone. T9 and me just don't get along. However, I want a super small form factor. If they could fit a slideout keyboard into the c500 footprint, I would be in heaven.

[groan]

i've been waiting for a smartphone that can replace my phone and pocket pc combo.
one criteria is it HAS to have a keyboard that i can use to take quick notes and to make entries in the calendar or phonebook a non-issue.

i dont care if it has a soft or hard keyboard.

if i have to only use t9, i won't buy it, so for me, a keyboard is a must.
i even like the new blackberry one, and if it werent for the high cost of the blackberry service, i might consider it.

the hunt continues.

[MobileRob]

I personally switched to the i600 from an i700 for the very reason of ease of use. I wanted to have a small phone, with PDA capability, without having to use both hands. T9 seems to work fine. I would enhance it to have some ability to learn from history, since some words are not available that are common, like names, etc. For the most part, I do not miss having a keyboard, and if I really needed one, I could get a portable one to connect to the i600.

Smartphones should not require a keyboard. However, having the choice, is best.

Rob.

[TimeHunter]

I personally switched to the i600 from an i700 for the very reason of ease of use. I wanted to have a small phone, with PDA capability, without having to use both hands. T9 seems to work fine. I would enhance it to have some ability to learn from history, since some words are not available that are common, like names, etc. For the most part, I do not miss having a keyboard, and if I really needed one, I could get a portable one to connect to the i600.

Smartphones should not require a keyboard. However, having the choice, is best.

Rob.

Actually, the MS Smartphone series DOES learn new words when you input them manually. The only problem is if you ever power cycle the phone, all the input history goes away. If I remember right, my previous phones from Nokia that used T9 also learned new words (but I can't remember if they had the same forgetfulness on power cycle problem :D).

What I'm surprised by for compact input methods is the words I think would be part of the built-in lexicon that are missing.

I agree that having a choice of keyboards is good. Eventually we'll find the best manual input method, but the choices we have so far are pretty good. I have a PDA and a mobile phone both with a full QWERTY thumb board that I really like, but it was replaced by my MS Smartphone (convergence and usage style got to me). I found I wasn't quite the mobile input monster I thought I'd be, so having only one doo-dad to carry that had all the stuff I wanted, including good data sync, has slightly lessened the weight while keeping functionality in my gadget king pockets.