Traditional T9

TT9 is a 12-key T9 keyboard for devices with a hardware numpad. It supports predictive text typing in 30+ languages, configurable hotkeys, and an on-screen keypad that can turn your smartphone into a Nokia from the 2000s. And, best of all, it doesn't spy on you!

This is a modernized version of the original project by Clam-.

📷 Screenshots

📦 Install

If your phone does not have Google Play and it does not allow installing custom APKs, please consult the Installation Guide.

⚙️ System Requirements

• Android 4.4 or higher.
• A hardware keypad or a keyboard. For touchscreen-only devices, an on-screen keypad can be activated from the Settings.
• Storage space depends on the Android version. The lite version requires 3-20 Mb and the full version requires 70-100 Mb.
• Extra storage space is necessary for language dictionaries in Predictive Mode.
  • Very small languages (< 100k words; Kiswahili, Indonesian, Vietnamese): 5-6 Mb per language.
  • Small languages (100k-400k words; e.g. English, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, German, French): 15-30 Mb per language.
  • Medium languages (400k-800k words; e.g. Danish, Greek, Italian, Portuguese): 40-75 Mb per language
  • Large languages (800k-1.5M words; e.g. Arabic, Bulgarian, Hebrew, Romanian, Spanish): 100-165 Mb per language

Storage usage for the dictionaries depends on the word root count and the average word length in each language. Some languages will require more space, even if they have fewer words than others.

⚠️ Compatibility

If you own a phone with Android 2.2 up to 4.4, please refer to the original version of Traditional T9 from 2016.

TT9 may not work well on TCL Flip 2, Kyocera phones, especially ones running Android 10 or newer, and some other devices that run highly customized Android versions, where all apps are integrated and intended to work with the respective native keyboard. You may experience missing functionality, empty gaps/misaligned items on the screen, or unexpected text/numbers appearing when you try to type.

Compatibility has been verified only on the following devices:

• Unihertz Atom L (Android 11)
• Qin F21 Pro+ (Android 11)
• Energizer H620SEU (Android 10)
• Sonim XP3800 (Android 8.1)
• Vodaphone VFD 500 (Android 6.0)

🤔 How to Use Traditional T9?

Before using Traditional T9 for the first time you need to configure it and load a dictionary. After that, you can start typing right away in one of the three modes: Predictive, ABC, or Numeric (123). And even if you have mastered the keypad back in the day, you will still find the Predictive mode now offers more powerful and smart new ways of typing with even fewer key presses.

So make sure to read the initial setup and the hotkey tips in the user manual. Also, don't miss the convenient compatibility options aimed to improve the experience in some applications.

⌨ Contributing

As with many other open-source projects, this one is also maintained by its author in his free time. Any help in making Traditional T9 better will be highly appreciated. Here is how:

• Add a new language, new UI translations or simply fix a spelling mistake. The process is very simple and even with minimum technical knowledge, your skills as a native speaker will be of great use. Or, if you are not tech-savvy, just open a new issue and put the correct translations or words there. Correcting misspelled words or adding new ones is the best you can do to help. Processing millions of words in multiple languages is a very difficult task for a single person.
• Share your list of added words. Use the Export function in Settings → Languages → Added Words and upload the generated CSV file in a new issue. You are also welcome to open a PR if you have good technical knowledge and can split them by language.
• Report bugs or other unusual behavior on different phones. It is only possible to verify correct operation and compatibility on a handful of phones, but Android behavior and appearance vary a lot across the millions of devices available out there.
• Experienced developers who are willing to fix a bug, or maybe create a brand new feature, see the Contribution Guide.

Your PRs are welcome!

👍 Support

If you want to show your appreciation, give the project a star on GitHub. Higher-ranked projects have the opportunity to use development tools for free and apply for funding more easily. Or give it 5 stars on Google Play to help it appear higher in the search results.

You could also donate on buymeacoffee.com.

💪 Philosophy and Privacy Policy

• No ads, no premium or paid features. It's all free.
• No spying, no tracking, no telemetry or reports. No nothing!
• No unnecessary bells or whistles. It only does its job, typing.
• The Full version operates entirely offline with no Internet permission. The Lite version connects only when downloading dictionaries from GitHub and when the voice input is active.
• Open-source, so you can verify all the above yourself.
• Created with help from the entire community.
• Things it will (probably) never have: QWERTY layout, swipe-typing, GIFs and stickers, backgrounds or other customizations. "It can be any color you like, as long as it is black."
• Not intended as a clone of Sony Ericsson, Nokia C2, Samsung, Touchpal, etc. It is understandable to miss your favorite old phone or keyboard app, but TT9 has its own unique design, inspired by the Nokia 3310 and 6303i. While it captures the feel of the classics, it offers its own experience and won’t replicate any device exactly.

Thank you for understanding, and enjoy TT9!

🕮 License

• The source code, the logo image, and the icons are licensed under the conditions described in LICENSE.txt.
• The dictionaries are licensed under the licenses provided in the respective readme files, where applicable. Detailed information about the dictionaries is also available there.
• Silver foil photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com
• "Negotiate" and "Vibrocentric" fonts are under The Fontspring Desktop/Ebook Font End User License.