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FrogPad™, Inc. is a privately held corporation committed to redefining access ergonomics through the delivery of superior information entry and access technology. The company’s first product, the FrogPad™ mobile keypad provides mobile and disabled workers with a single-handed keyboard for ultra-portability, speed and ease of use with handheld computers, personal digital assistants, and wireless phones.

The FrogPad™ mobile keypad with its innovative 20 full-size key layout optimized around the most frequently used characters sets a new standard in information access with superior portability and ergonomics, global adaptability, rapid learning and ease of use. It’s unique patented keystroke algorithms enable it to be used in either a right or left-handed mode and with any international language set.

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FrogPad™ uses both a direct and indirect sales model. Initial sales will be direct web-based sales through FrogPad™’s online shopping site at www.FrogPad™.com and links to the shopping sites of key partners. With the delivery of solutions through licensees of the technology, indirect sales will be driven by OEM partners and their distribution networks.


Market
Demand is exploding for a new generation of mobile devices that enable access and manipulation of information from anywhere and at anytime. Advances in wireless communication and miniaturization in semiconductor technology are helping to fuel the demand and provide the means to deliver solutions.

The primary market initially for the FrogPad™ mobile keypad is the existing user of handheld devices for communication and or data entry as well as new users who recognize their applicability for broader information access and input or specific business or physical needs. There are today over 6 million of these users for the Palm V products alone and well over 500 million users of cell phones in Asia and the United States. Secondarily, the market consists of groups of users in organizations employing handheld computing applications in industries such as utility, transportation and logistics, medical, military and aeronautics.


FrogPad™ mobile keypad solution
The FrogPad™ mobile keyboard provides the first practical implementation of a full function keyboard for use in an anywhere, anytime, with any device mode of information access and input. It is a one-handed keyboard which enables its user to hold documents, tools or other items while entering information on a PDA, Pocket PC, smart phone, laptop or other mobile device.

Both the layout and use of full-size keys contribute to overall ease of use and small size to deliver the ultimate in portability. While presenting a unique key layout, the ergonomics have been shown to significantly shorten learning time compared with the traditional QWERTY layout (university studies indicate new users can reach 40 words per minute in 10 hours versus the 56 needed with QWERTY). Since over 75% of all users do not touch type but use a “hunt and peck” approach, the FrogPad™ presents an opportunity for faster keyboard input.

The FrogPad™ has been designed for fast data entry. The letter layout is based on the percent usage of each letter in the English language. Fifteen letters that are used 86% of the time by typists are placed in the most efficient locations on the keyboard. Overall layout uses the natural drumming motion of the hand to further optimize performance and enables international scalability for other languages.

The principal concepts underlying the FrogPad™ initial product concepts were conceived in September of 1994 by Kenzo Tsubai. The Patent application was filed in April 1997 and U.S. Patent # 5,793, 312 was issued on the keyboard technology invention on August 11, 1998. After four years of research and development the first FrogPad™ prototype was released in April of 1999.