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It is quite interesting to note how Apple was able to change the face of technology in today’s world with its iDevices. Specifically, Apple’s handset, iPhone has taken the mobile handset market by storm. Now, an ex-executive from Apple who worked on iPhone, Tony Fadell, has stated that before the launch of first iPhone, Apple was considering launching a smartphone with physical keyboard.

Fadell had been working as an adviser to Steve Jobs until 2010, even after he left Apple in 2008. According to him, he worked on numerous versions of iPod as well as iPhone designs. More interestingly, Fadell reveals that when Apple was working on its first smartphone handset, it was torn between multiple choices. It was considering creating an iPod-phone hybrid, some other design and the design that was finally launched by Apple.

Fadell also reveals that Apple was, at one point before the launch of first iPhone, considering that it may include a physical keyboard in the smartphone. Let’s not forget it was the time of BlackBerry’s rise and everyone who wanted a smartphone would tool a RIM handset which came with a physical keyboard. That may have persuaded Apple to consider the option.

However, Fadell says he suggested that Apple should go with a virtual keyboard. And luckily, Steve Jobs sided with him. Eventually, Apple did launch the iPhone with a touchscreen virtual keyboard. Moreover, Apple’s iPhone had capacitative touchscreen, something which pulled it right ahead of other smartphones with resistive touchscreens.

And it was then that the world realized it had to move on from hard keyboards to virtual keyboards. The transition was a tad bit slow but Apple can be credited with being the one who led the world to do so.

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