Headset recognized as keyboard

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Level 1

11 points

Headset recognized as keyboard

Why does my iPhone think that my Sony SBH54 bluetooth headphone adapter is a keyboard?

Whenever I connect my Sony bluetooth adapter (SHB54) to my iPhone, it seems to be recognized as a keyboard. Needless to say, it is not a keyboard. What happens is that the on-screen keyboard drops away, and the iPhone won´t let me access it. This is extremely aggravating, because it basically makes the phone useless as a media player. With the phones connected, I can´t search for songs on spotify, for podcasts, or for anything else, or type anything anywhere. This means that I have to disconnect the bluetooth adapter, or simply turn bluetooth off, whenever I want to search for another album, another podcast, send or answer a text and so on, and then turn everything on again and reconnect it to continue listening. NOT what I want to do with my listening time/workout.

Does anyone have any clues?

iPhone 7, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 9, 2017 8:54 AM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Sep 9, 2017 8:59 AM in response to adamfresk

It would seem by going to Sony's site that this device may not be compatible with the iPhone. It mentions many alternate devices, and it seems the device acts as its own music player.

I suggest that you contact Sony support and ask them about the device and see what they have to say. It could be something about their Bluetooth profile that may make it incompatible with the iPhone, or be causing the keyboard issue that you describe.

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Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:24 AM in response to adamfresk

"simple Bluetooth headphone adapter"....."simply not acceptable". Interesting, since it is up to the device manufacture to determine whether their device is compatible with other devices. I believe you seem to misunderstand 3rd party devices. It is very possible the device is not compatible, and just because it is a Bluetooth device does not guarantee that it will work with all other devices. The only people that can answer that question are Sony, and that is why you were directed to contact them. The fact the keyboard is being removed from the screen indicates there is a problem. There is no setting on the iPhone to determine how the keyboard reacts. As far as your statement about "it's the iPhone that exhibits the 'behavior', not the headset", supports the fact that it is the headset that is causing the behavior, which would lead one to contact the headset manufacture for support.

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:56 AM in response to adamfresk

Your directly frustration towards Apple for a problem with a Sony device is fruitless. In the time it has taken you to type out all of this, you could have contacted Sony support and probably gotten an answer from them about the problem. I can understand you being frustrated, but you are comparing oranges and bananas. The iPhone supports most of the Bluetooth profiles. If the Sony uses something else, that is not an Apple issue. This is how business operates, and it is the decision of the 3rd party device manufacturer to determine whether it is going to be supported on other devices. Relax and contact Sony.

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Answer 4

adamfresk Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:17 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks for the input!

However, the sentence "this device may not be compatible with the iPhone", regarding a simple bluetooth headphone adapter, should not even exist (or need to actually be spoken) in 2017. This is one of those cases where I feel that I just don´t care. It´s simply not acceptable.

Whether it´s the adapter´s "fault", there should be an option to not have the onscreen keyboard dropping away. After all, it´s the iPhone that exhibits the "behavior", not the headset.

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Answer 5

adamfresk Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:45 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

I guess I´m simply expressing my frustration with (resentment towards) the whole multi-billion-dollar-corporation resistance to standardization-business. If each corporation wanted their devices to work with other manufacturers´stuff, they would make sure that they did. But somehow it seems that they all think it a good competitive strategy to limit this functionality, so as to sell more of their own devices. Personally, I´m not sure that it´s even such a good strategy in the long run...I think everyone could potentially benefit from standardization. But I´m not a business man, so I shouldn´t speculate about that, I guess.

Well, thank´s for the help, anyway!

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Answer 6

adamfresk Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:52 AM in response to adamfresk

"There is no setting on the iPhone to determine how the keyboard reacts." No, I know. But there certainly should be. :-P The automatic dropping-down of the keyboard is a feature of the iPhone, is it not?

Otherwise, the devices work together. It´s just this feature. And I think it´s stupid.

Again, thank you. My frustration is not directed towards you (obviously), but towards Apple/Sony... :-/

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Answer 7

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,303 points

Sep 9, 2017 9:46 AM in response to adamfresk

You're welcome.

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