http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/07/05/iphone.typing.shortcut/
iPhone shortcut: typing punctuation
updated 03:35 pm EDT, Thu July 5, 2007
iPhone typing shortcut
David Pogue has posted a new iPhone tip to his Missing Manual Web site: If you want to type a period or other puncuation, simply touch and hold the ".?123" key then slide your finger to the desired button. When you've selected the punctuation, the keyboard automatically changes back to the normal character entry mode. This allows you to quickly select a punctuation character without having to tap more than once. Pogue writes: "This makes a HUGE difference in the usability of the keyboard."
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2003
I dunno bout that.
I actually find it easier to click the symbol button then the symbol. Of course it automatically goes back to the standard alphabet keyboard just as this click+slide "shortcut" does.
And how about typing an apostrophe? If you click+slide you have to reach completely across the screen. When I click+click I can hit one with my left thumb and the other with my right thumb. Meh.