Apple iPhone 3G with slide-out QWERTY keyboard: is it needed?

We all know how popular the new 3G Apple iPhone will be one it reaches stores, but it looks as though Apple are already working on a newer iPhone. This new handset will come with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and Insider Apple sources report that there is already a prototype currently on show. Although many of us normal users will not be interested in a QWERTY keyboard, it seems as if Apple is targeting this new iPhone at the enterprise market.

If Apple does launch the new Apple iPhone 3G with slide-out QWERTY keyboard, then this would mean that the iPhone would be see wider business world acceptance. It is not a done deal yet, but Apple has been canvassing the idea to phone operators, they have been asking the question “If you had a keyboard version, how many would you take?”.

There have also been reports that Apple have sent out prototypes to senior executives inside the operators, just to try and gauge what they think. However; the keyboard on these early models are said to have a few issues, which have not yet been resolved.

Myself, I am happy with my touchscreen version, but if they did come up with an iPhone 3G with slide-out QWERTY keyboard, then Apple might just hit gold with corporate buyers. It seems as if there is no stopping the Apple iPhone, many cell phone makers have tried to say that their latest handsets will be an iPhone killer, so it goes to show that the iPhone is still the benchmark.

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