G1 Roadmap Reveals a Virtual Keyboard

The T-Mobile G1 will be getting a on screen keyboard like the Apple iPhone. Coming in the first quarter of 2009, the virtual keyboard will allow for textual entry without opening the flip-out keyboard. While many users like a ‘real’ keyboard, the introduction of a virtual keyboard will make a nice optional way of entering data when needed.

The coming feature is outlined on the Android Project roadmap found here. This will make the G1 even more competitive against the iPhone as it will have two keyboard options whereas the iPhone only has the software based keyboard.

According to the roadmap, the input method engine which supports soft keyboards will also support ‘a dictionary of suggestions, and a suggestion algorithm’.