An Alternative to Typing Text Messages

California-based Synaptics, a software company that specializes in products for cell phone texting, communications and entertainment gadgets, introduced Oct. 25 its MobileTouch FlexPad for Pantech Wireless PG-2800 mobile phone.

Pantechs PG-2800 phone allows users to text-message others by drawing out characters with their fingers, which the software then translates into numbers and letters, depending on what the user was trying to draw out.

“Our FlexPad solution for the Pantech PG-2800 mobile phone demonstrates the ability of Synaptics MobileTouch solutions to simplify character entry and navigation,” said Clark Foy, Synaptics vice president of marketing, in a statement.

While the FlexPad does not eliminate the use for a mechanical keypad, it does give users an easier option of converting what they draw on the FlexPad into words and numbers.

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“Our thin, robust FlexPad does not impact the mechanical keypad look and feel that users are comfortable with, while enabling new and simpler ways to interact with the phone,” said Foy. “As an example, users can quickly access the Ts in their phone directory simply by writing a T across the keypad.”

Synaptics and Pantech believe that the FlexPad presents an intelligent and professional way to construct text messages while also providing users with a way to steer menus and obtain the data that they need.

“With the PG-2800, we wanted to create the stylish mobile phone design that this dynamic marketplace demands—in combination with a highly functional interface capability,” said Steven Kim, Pantechs director of product planning. “Synaptics sensing algorithms in the MobileTouch FlexPad recognize finger movements, and the phone seamlessly translates the movements into characters.”

No formal announcement has been made as to when the product will be available in the United States; the product is currently available in Russia.

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