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iBIZ Technology has acquired a patent pending design, and tooling for the Xela (pronounced Zee-la), a combination PDA Case/Keyboard slated to begin shipping in November.

According to Ken Schilling, iBIZ President and CEO, the Xela features an 'always attached' combination case and keyboard that transforms into a centered QWERTY keyboard that is large enough for typing with two hands. This design uses the top cover of the case as its keyboard, as unfolding the winged top cover and rotating each wing 90 degrees reveals the keyboard. In its open or closed position, the Xela design features a pass through port that allows the PDA to be placed in its cradle while it's attached for charging and data synchronization.

Although the first version of the XELA, due out next month, is designed for the Palm M500, M505, M515, and i705 devices, the company said it will eventually be available for most recent life PDAs on the market. The next version is slated to be available for the Hewlett-Packard iPAQ series, and should be out in the first quarter of next year.