Only letters that are used more than 80% of the time are shown, and the rest of the keys are hidden to keep the user experience crisp, Mr. Ghassabian said. (The Z key is the least-frequently used, followed closely by the X key.) He says the system is up to three times faster than a traditional keyboard.

WSJ: The Future of Typing

Where ports and hardware keys are concerned, HTC's done its best to keep the distraction to a minimum, carving those odds and ends out of the very same plastic as the chassis.

ENGADGET: Windows Phone 8X by HTC hands-on: Microsoft's modern mobile OS personified in polycarbonate

"Yes, it does matter, because people want choice, " says brand expert Robert Pasikoff of Brand Keys, who also noted that a current law that gives customers the right to keep their phone numbers when switching carriers makes it easier for them to bolt to Verizon or Sprint.

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"Yes, it does matter, because people want choice, " says brand expert Robert Pasikoff of Brand Keys, who also noted that a current law that gives customers the right to keep their phone numbers when switching carriers makes it easier for them to bolt to Verizon or Sprint (nyse: S - news - people ).

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