If you’re looking for a portable keyboard for your NFC-enabled Android phone, check out the ELECOM NFC Android Wireless keyboard. This keyboard folds up for travel, and it unfolds to work with most Android 4.0 and higher phones. It weighs 5 ounces and measures about 13.4″ X 2.6″ X 0.4″. It has an internal lithium-ion battery and silicone keys. It’s radiowave frequency is 13.56MHz, and it has a 10mm transmission distance. It’s in limited supply at Amazon right now, but more is expected soon. The ELECOM keyboard is $59.90 and qualifies for Prime shipping. If miss out on the current stock of the ELECOM and you’d rather not wait for the next shipment, Amazon also sells a similar keyboard from Brookstone. Other than a blue logo, the Brookstone NFC Android Wireless Keyboard seems to have identical features. The Brookstone keyboard is $99.99.
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That’s a cool design. It would be even better if there was a way to attach the phone to that center section so you could use it on your lap.
Does NFC have the power and responsiveness to make a keyboard usable? My experience with Bluetooth HID devices has been very poor with response that gets so laggy it becomes unusable, and I would think NFC, which isn’t really designed for this, would be as bad or worse.
Well you can use NFC for transferring files. So who knows. I would like to see it in action.
I think the NFC is used just to do a quick pair with the keyboard / device. I didn’t check the specs, but I bet it still uses Bluetooth. That’s the way some of the NFC speakers work.
Please check this one out, there are at least 2 models of NFC wireless keyboards. http://www.one2touch.no/
@Andreas Janet linked to that one in the article.It’s sold by Brookstone. From the video on that site, it doesn’t appear that Bluetooth is used at all. Very interesting indeed.
I’m curious how big it is when it is compacted for travel.
I’m sorry, but I can’t think of a more disfunctional design.
Anyone ever used an N900? Slide the screen up and there’s your keyboard. Using both thumbs to tap away, it can be used while you’re walking along the street, sitting on the bus or train and it’s actually fixed to the device.
A snap-on back cover with a sliding keyboard just like the N900 would have been a far more practical design. The ability to swap the shape of the snap-on section to make it compatible with a variety of devices could also be possible, so all you need to do is purchase the right battery cover, clip it to the keyboard, snap it on and away you go.
You’re still only carrying one item around with you instead of you phone AND a bulky 35mm camera sized pouch with the keyboard in.