RIM Finally Bags Patent For Predictive Keyboard For Blackberry 10 OS

By Thea Neuman (Google)

RIM’s President and CEO Thorsten Heins has had so many problems lately that it appears that he is coming apart at the seams. No matter how many things are going haywire, nothing is working for RIM right now, but still this company is looking on the bright side, and what can be better news for RIM that it has bagged a patent for keyboard of Blackberry 10. USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trade Office) has finally cleared the way for RIM regarding predictive keyboard for Blackberry 10 operating system. This new cutting edge predictive text keyboard is capable of advanced thinking as it can even make out what will be the next word to come after the word typed by you.

Recently a verdict regarding patent infringement came as a bolt from the blue for RIM. RIM has been asked by a jury comprising of 8 members to compensate for Mformation Technology’s loss by paying $147.2 million. Though RIM has mentioned that it will not lose hope, and is looking for a way to deal with this fresh legal trouble, facing a lawsuit isn’t a small thing. Considering the latest legal woes, this recent patent acquisition appears more like a ray of sunshine. RIM has tried to shed some light on this new predictive keyboard:

This handheld device includes a condensed QWERTY keyboard. The reduced keyboard basically features two or three letters on the same key, just like old fashioned phone- based keyboards. This handheld electronic device provides a default output along with numerous variants. The default output is mainly dependent on the frequency of typing.

One of the best features of this device is that it is capable of editing while the user enters text. It also offers a flexible learning function which offers a customized experience to users. If the user doesn’t want a function, he can disable it and opt for an interpretation system featuring alternate keystrokes. Moreover, the device is also capable of selecting word variants by presenting keypad’s special ‘NEXT’ key graphic which facilitates users in choosing variants without requiring them to change the positions of their hands.

In other news, it seems as if this recent patent infringement trouble was not enough, and one more major blow was awaiting RIM. Australian airline Qantas recently revealed that after a strategic decision, they have decided to switch over from Blackberry phones to Apple’s iPhone. This decision will help them save their precious earning through simplified infrastructure support. And the worst thing is that other rumors have already started doing rounds, suggesting that the leading tech-giant IBM, too has begun considering switching over from Blackberry smart phones to Apple’s iPhone.

However, if predictive text is really what people are looking up to, who knows the strategic decision of delaying Blackberry 10 devices might pay off in long run. Then it will give the much needed time to RIM in order to spruce up next-gen Blackberry devices with cutting edge features so that RIM can ensure biggest ever Blackberry launch.