E3 '07: $30 360 Messenger keyboard coming 9/6

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--In April, Microsoft announced it would be updating its popular Xbox Live online service with increased instant-messaging capabilities as part of its Spring Update. Since chatting with Xbox Live's existing digital keyboard would be painfully tedious at best, the publisher at that time also announced a QWERTY-style miniature keyboard attachment, which would affix itself to the Xbox 360's gamepad through the same port as the wired Xbox Live headset.

Today the publisher updated its official site to reflect a price and release date for the add-on. Now dubbed the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit, the accessory will be available September 6 for $29.99. As advertised, the attachment plugs in to the headset jack, and as a courtesy to those who bought the Xbox 360 Core console, it will come with a wired headset. And, in a nod to gamers' optimal game-playing environment, the 47-key layout will feature backlit buttons.