Microsoft announces that it has locked acquisition of SwiftKey, one of the most popular on-screen keyboard software for mobile devices, for an undisclosed amount. The company says that SwiftKey will continue to be available on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android devices, but depending on Microsoft’s plans, looking at previous acquisitions, it’s probable that SwiftKey may eventually be rebranded or made part of a different product.
The company also explains that it will integrate the SwiftKey technology into its Word Flow keyboard software for Windows phones, and it’s likely we’ll be seeing a future version of the software combining both technologies.
Currently, Word Flow is the best on-screen software keyboard for Windows handsets, which the company has been trying to port into iOS and Android. However, SwiftKey has been around since 2010 with over 300 million installs and with support for more than 100 languages, the free keyboard app will certainly help the company to expand its portfolio of products in the mobile market.
“In this cloud-first, mobile-first world, SwiftKey’s technology aligns with our vision for more personal computing experiences that anticipate our needs versus responding to our commands, and directly supports our ambition to reinvent productivity by leveraging the intelligent cloud.” Harry Shum, Executive Vice President, Technology and Research says.
Currently, SwiftKey is a free app for Android and iOS, and there is not a variant for Windows phones. The company has generated $8.4 million in revenue last year, and the app comes bundled on several Blackberry and Samsung smartphones.
While the software giant has not unveiled the how much has agreed to pay to acquire SwiftKey, TechCrunch reports that Microsoft paid $250 million in cash beating Apple on the bid.
Microsoft has been struggling to get into the mobile market with Windows 10 Mobile, and the company is also close to launch its new Lumia 650 budget phone, which it’s rumored to be the last device using the Lumia brand. However, today’s acquisition shows that Microsoft continues to be committed to stay competitive in the mobile market with productivity apps. Along with Office and other acquisitions, such as Sunrise, Accompli, and Wunderlist, the software giant is quietly building a powerful set of tools that will help users be more productive.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].