Ex-Apple exec: iPhone could have had hardware keyboard

01600updated 09:40 pm EDT, Fri April 27, 2012 Tony Fadell says three iPhone ideas tested

Apple had considered one of three core ideas for the iPhone, one of which included a hardware keyboard, former Apple executive and now Nest founder Tony Fadell revealed Friday. Speaking in an evening session with The Verge, he mentioned that the all-touch design that eventually shipped first had come after he wanted to try a virtual keyboard before resorting to the hardware option. The key iPod architect had understood the potential of an on-screen keyboard, which has infinite customization and can disappear when not needed, but didn't rule out physical keys at first. During development, there had been three versions, Fadell added. The all-touch design that ultimately shipped was accompanied by another model of an unknown layout as well as a third "iPod

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