KFC Tray Typer: Text Without Getting Grease on Your Phone

KFC’s latest marketing ploy sounds like a belated April Fool’s joke. But customers aren’t laughing as they walk away from the fast food chain with full stomachs and clean smartphones.

The KFC Tray Typer—part of a German advertising campaign(Opens in a new window)—is an ultra-thin, rechargeable wireless keyboard with built-in Bluetooth.

So, the next time you’re halfway through a bucket of extra crispy chicken and get an urgent text, just shove your food aside, pair the keyboard mat with your phone, and tap out a response—without ever laying a grease-stained finger on the handset. Just remember to pair the phone with the Bluetooth before you start eating.

The reusable keyboard is reportedly so popular that each durable pad handed out during a week-long German promotion was taken home. Presumably to be wiped down and used during future visits to other fast food restaurants.

“Our fans loved it,” the fried chicken franchise said. “Geolocated social media discussions skyrocketed.”

Check out the Tray Typer in action in the video above, produced by Germany’s Serviceplan ad agency.

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This isn’t KFC’s first attempt at cutting-edge technology: A Japanese branch of the fast food chain last fall launched(Opens in a new window) a keyboard, mouse, and USB stick—all in the shape of pieces of fried chicken.

And, as The Verge pointed out(Opens in a new window), U.K.-based electronics company CSR in 2013 showed off a Bluetooth keyboard(Opens in a new window) as thin and flexible as the Tray Typer.

There is no word on whether KFC will expand its Tray Typer rollout to other countries. Keep your chicken-smeared fingers crossed for a U.S. debut.