Android and Bluetooth Keyboard

There are two type of bluetooth keyboards. One uses HID (Human Interface Device Profile) protocol, the other uses SPP (Serial Port Profile). Today, most of android devices normally support none of these bluetooth keyboards, no matter what version Android(1.6, 2.1 or 2.2) they are using. Besides of a few of devices using CyanogenMod (CM) roms, most of android phones or tablets need additional software to connect to bluetooth keyboard.

SPP Bluetooth Keyboards and Android

Bluetooth keyboards with SPP are offen used with Blackberry phones. You can install KeyPro for android on your android device to make SPP Bluetooth Keyboard compatible.
It costs $9.95, but you can try it with a free trial version first. (Trial version will insert version info between input texts)

There is a list of SPP Bluetooth Keyboards (by no mean this list is complete, leave a comment if you know any else):
* Amzer SmartKeyboard
* Chainpas SmartKeyboard
* Freedom Pro Keyboard (with SPP/HID switch)
* Freedom Universal Keyboard I & II (with SPP/HID switch)
* Freedom Blackberry Keyboard
* HP Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard FA287A
* i.Tech Virtual Keyboard
* MSI BK100 Universal Bluetooth Keyboard
* Snap-N-Type Keyboard
* ThinkOutside Shasta Keyboard
* Xema BlueKeyboard

HID bluetooth Keyboards and Android

Bluetooth keyboards with HID are more commonly used. They can work with Symbian, Windows Mobile, PC, Mac, Netbook etc... So, besides the few I list above, most of Bluetooth Keyboards on the market come with HID Protocol.

To make a HID bluetooth Keyboard work with your android phone, you can use bluetooth utilities (you need to root your device first), or you can install a third party software, like BlueInput, or BlueKeyboard JP.

BlueKeyboard JP is coming from Japan. It comes with a Japanese IME, but you can leave it alone and use English IME only. It is a free software, but can pay for a Pro version for less than $2 to remove ads.

As more and more Android Tablets are coming out, I think connecting to a bluetooth keyboard may become a more popular need. I hope android engineers will bring us a easier way to do it.

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