TechxArtisan, the maker behind the Openterface KVM line, has finished crowdfunding the Openterface KeyMod on Crowd Supply. The campaign raised $54,121 against a $15,000 goal (360%) from 523 backers and was marked funded on October 1, 2026. The KeyMod is now on pre-order: the KeyMod Mini and KeyMod Plus each cost $49 as of October 20, 2026, plus $8 shipping in the US or $18 worldwide. Orders placed now have an estimated ship date of February 14, 2027.
TechxArtisan describes the device as a "Pocket USB multi-tool bridge for tech, professionals, and gaming". It plugs into a target computer's USB port and enumerates as a USB composite device, with an HID keyboard and mouse and a CDC-ECM Ethernet interface running at the same time. A phone running the companion KeyCmd app drives it.
How it works
The KeyMod is powered from the target's USB port and has no battery. The phone connects to it over BLE 5.3, with a best range of about 5 m and a maximum of about 10 m. The Plus also has a USB-C port for a wired link to the phone. On the target side, the HID keyboard and mouse work in the BIOS and need no driver. The CDC-ECM network interface is supported natively by macOS and Linux; Windows needs RNDIS, which TechxArtisan says is still in development.
TechxArtisan's spec list names only a "CH32 HID controller". CNX Software's launch write-up identifies it as WCH's CH32V208 RISC-V microcontroller, running at up to 144 MHz with Bluetooth LE and USB 2.0.
The two variants differ mainly in their connector, link speed and size:
| KeyMod Mini | KeyMod Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug to target | USB-C male | USB-A male |
| Link to phone | BLE 5.3 | BLE 5.3 or wired USB |
| Throughput | limited by BLE, 2 Mbps | up to 10 Mbps via USB connection |
| Dimensions | 25 × 15 × 5 mm | 44 × 20 × 10 mm |
| Weight | ~2.4 g | ~8.9 g |
| Pre-order price | $49 | $49 |
The KeyCmd app
KeyCmd went up on the App Store and Google Play during the campaign, according to a September 23, 2026 campaign update. CNX lists it for Android 5.0 or later and iOS/iPadOS 17.0 or later. Its features include an SSH terminal over the USB virtual Ethernet link, a compose-and-send mode that types text, scripts or passwords as keystrokes, gamepad control, a presentation mode with a slide timer, and voice-to-keyboard typing using Whisper AI. An AI Agent mode, which combines terminal commands and HID input for troubleshooting, is listed as upcoming.
The phone-to-device link is not encrypted on the current beta and engineering kits. TechxArtisan says encryption will be delivered by firmware update before shipment, and CNX reports the plan as 128-bit AES with ECDH P-256 key exchange.
Price and status
The price has gone up since launch. When CNX covered the campaign on August 24, 2026, either variant was $42, with the same $8 US and $18 worldwide shipping charges.
The campaign ended on October 1, 2026, and the product has not shipped. Reaching the funding goal does not mean the hardware exists in volume. CNX reported that deliveries are expected to begin in February 2027, and the February 14, 2027 date for new orders is an estimate. Orders are fulfilled through Crowd Supply's partner, Mouser Electronics. On September 29, 2026, TechxArtisan posted a progress report on KeyMod production and quality testing alongside its "Campaign Ending Soon!" update.
Regulatory work is still in progress: TechxArtisan lists CE and UKCA certification as in progress and committed before shipping.
Open source plans
TechxArtisan says the KeyCmd app will go fully open source on GitHub after the campaign ends, and that OSHWA certification is planned for the KeyMod. CNX adds that the hardware schematics and PCB design files will also be published.
Where it fits
TechxArtisan announced the KeyMod on March 6, 2026, in an update to backers of its Openterface Mini-KVM, following the launch of its KVM-GO. The update called the KeyMod "a compact, programmable, USB plus Bluetooth, HID emulator that turns your phone into a portable keyboard" and said it is "intended for practical everyday local device control, not as a remote desktop replacement."
What It Means for Makers
- Who it is for: people who need keyboard and mouse input on a machine without its own peripherals, including BIOS-level work, or who want an SSH terminal, typed scripts or a gamepad on a phone through the target's USB port.
- Picking a variant: choose by the target's port. The Mini has a USB-C plug and talks to the phone over Bluetooth only. The Plus has a USB-A plug and adds the wired phone link, the faster of the two.
- Host compatibility: the network bridge works without extra drivers on macOS and Linux; Windows support depends on RNDIS, which is not finished.
- Security: encryption of the phone link is promised before shipment but is not on current kits. Avoid typing sensitive credentials with beta hardware.
- Getting one: pre-order through Crowd Supply, with Mouser fulfilling orders. Treat February 14, 2027 as an estimate, not a guarantee. For firmware or hardware work, check TechxArtisan's GitHub for the promised releases.
