Mobience offers new compact keyboard solution for mobile devices

A South Korean company called Mobience is offering a new product dubbed “SmallQWERTY”, a new keyboard design made for small touchscreen-equipped or otherwise compact mobile devices. Basically, SmallQWERTY crams all the letters in the alphabet in as low as nine keys -

Each key requires one, two or three taps to type the first, second and third letter shown on the key, respectively. The design offers efficient text input without the frustrations of trying to poke the keys of some tiny onscreen QWERTY keyboard (those with stubby fingers might want this.) For example, Mobience envisions companies equipping their keyboard on really small gadgets – like the ones with two-inch screens and styluses.

The keyboard isn’t limited to just letters, either – there are buttons also on the pad that change the typing block (on default, letters) into numbers or symbols. Confused? Watch this:

Mobience offers three variants of the keyboard featuring 20, 19 or 9 keys, and offers three thicker versions (for fingers) and one thinner variation (for stylus use.) In addition, the company offers a hardware version of the keyboard if you want to use it that way (y’know, with your thumbs like you would on a Blackberry.) I can see the SmallQWERTY being somewhat annoying to use either way, but it certainly beats T9 keypads for texting and whatnot.

Android and iPhone users can find the software on the Android Market and App Store respectively by searching for “SmallQWERTY”. iPad users need not apply (unless you’re feeling adventurous…) You can check out Mobience’s site with some more information here.