As with nearly all patents the fact there is some technology patented apparently means nothing, this patent actually dates back as far as mid 06. However, RIM is onto something, and most know with the intro of Apple’s iPhone every handset maker is turning to interface design.

There are whispers about that not into the too distant future the world will see a touch-screen BlackBerry, and well the logical next step would be the addition of a full QWERTY keyboard as well.