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Microsoft SwiftKey is a
virtual keyboard A virtual keyboard is a software component that allows the input of characters without the need for physical keys. The interaction with the virtual keyboard happens mostly via a touchscreen interface, but can also take place in a different form ...
app originally developed by TouchType for Android and iOS devices. It was first released for Android in July 2010, followed by an iOS release in September 2014 after Apple implemented third-party keyboard support. Support for the iOS app was briefly discontinued in October 2022, before being reinstated the following month; however, users are no longer able to login. SwiftKey learns from previous typed text and outputs predictions based on currently inputted text and what it has learned.


History

The company behind SwiftKey was founded in 2008 by Jon Reynolds, Ben Medlock and Chris Hill-Scott. Its
head office Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...
is at the Microsoft offices in
Paddington Paddington is an area within the City of Westminster, in Central London. First a medieval parish then a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Three important landmarks of the district are Paddingt ...
,
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, and other offices are located in
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
, and
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
. In September 2013, SwiftKey announced a series B finance round totaling $17.5 million and led by
Index Ventures Index Ventures is a European venture capital firm with dual headquarters in San Francisco and London, investing in technology-enabled companies with a focus on e-commerce, fintech, mobility, gaming, infrastructure/ AI, and security. Since its ...
, along with Octopus Investments and
Accel Partners Accel, formerly known as Accel Partners, is an American venture capital firm. Accel works with startups in seed, early and growth-stage investments. The company has offices in Palo Alto, California and San Francisco, California, with additional ...
. In May 2014, SwiftKey hired James Bromley as COO. In February 2016, SwiftKey was purchased by
Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washi ...
, for $250 million. In May 2020, the app was rebranded as Microsoft SwiftKey to reflect its present ownership. In September 2022, Microsoft announced it was terminating support for the iOS version of SwiftKey. The app was removed from the App Store on October 5th. In November 2022, Microsoft announced a reversal of its decision to discontinue SwiftKey for iOS devices. The app was relisted on November 18th, with Microsoft promising future updates for the app. The company cited "customer feedback" as a reason for SwiftKey's return.


Overview

SwiftKey's Prediction Engine allows the program to learn from usage and improve predictions. The
feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing characteristic of a software item ...
allows the tool to improve with usage, learning from SMS,
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk ...
,
Gmail Gmail is a free email service provided by Google. As of 2019, it had 1.5 billion active users worldwide. A user typically accesses Gmail in a web browser or the official mobile app. Google also supports the use of email clients via the PO ...
,
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
, and an
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.


Beta

SwiftKey was first released as a
beta Beta (, ; uppercase , lowercase , or cursive ; grc, βῆτα, bē̂ta or ell, βήτα, víta) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 2. In Modern Greek, it represents the voiced labi ...
in the Android Market on 14 July 2010, supporting seven languages. It included a variety of settings to adjust audio feedback
volume Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). The ...
and length of haptic feedback vibration. It was announced on SwiftKey's official
website A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google Search, Google, Facebook, Amaz ...
on 15 May 2014, that a Japanese version was out in beta. People registered on ''SwiftKey VIP'' were able to
download In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar system. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote s ...
the beta version.


SwiftKey X

On 14 July 2011, ''SwiftKey X'' was released to the Android Market as an
upgrade Upgrading is the process of replacing a product with a newer version of the same product. In computing and consumer electronics an upgrade is generally a replacement of hardware, software or firmware with a newer or better version, in order ...
to SwiftKey. Along with new and updated features, ''SwiftKey X'' introduced a dedicated app for tablets, called ''SwiftKey Tablet X''. The updates included: * A new
artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...
engine, to predict phrases and learn the user's writing style * A
cloud-based Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over multi ...
personalization Personalization (broadly known as customization) consists of tailoring a service or a product to accommodate specific individuals, sometimes tied to groups or segments of individuals. A wide variety of organizations use personalization to improv ...
service, which analyzes how the user types in Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, and text messages, to predict phrases in the user's style * A technology that continually monitors the user's typing precision and adapts the touch-sensitive area of the touch screen for each key * Simultaneous use of multiple languages; this allows users to type in up to three languages at once, with auto-correction that is language-aware * Split key layout on ''SwiftKey Tablet X'', to improve
thumb The thumb is the first digit of the hand, next to the index finger. When a person is standing in the medical anatomical position (where the palm is facing to the front), the thumb is the outermost digit. The Medical Latin English noun for thum ...
typing while using a larger touchscreen * Additional language support


SwiftKey 3

The ''SwiftKey 3'' update was released on 21 June 2012, including: * ''Smart Space'' – this detects spurious or missing spaces in real time * Additional language support


SwiftKey 4

The ''SwiftKey 4'' update was released on 20 February 2013, including: * ''SwiftKey Flow'' – a gesture input method with real-time predictions * ''Flow Through Space'' – a gesture to input whole
sentences ''The Four Books of Sentences'' (''Libri Quattuor Sententiarum'') is a book of theology written by Peter Lombard in the 12th century. It is a systematic compilation of theology, written around 1150; it derives its name from the ''sententiae'' o ...
, by gliding to the spacebar * An enhanced prediction engine * Additional language support, raising the total to 60 * SwiftKey 4.2 introduced ''SwiftKey Cloud'', allowing users to
backup In information technology, a backup, or data backup is a copy of computer data taken and stored elsewhere so that it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The verb form, referring to the process of doing so, is "back up", w ...
and sync their language behavior and software settings, plus Trending Phrases – a feature adding the phrases causing a buzz on Twitter and localized
news site An online newspaper (or electronic news or electronic news publication) is the online version of a newspaper, either as a stand-alone publication or as the online version of a printed periodical. Going online created more opportunities for newsp ...
s


SwiftKey 5

The ''SwiftKey 5'' update was released in June 2014, including: *
Freemium Freemium, a portmanteau of the words "free" and "premium," is a pricing strategy by which a basic product or service is provided free of charge, but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical ...
transition – the app dropped its price-tag to be free to download * ''SwiftKey Store'' – Theme store of free and paid-for color schemes for the app *
Emoji An emoji ( ; plural emoji or emojis) is a pictogram, logogram, ideogram or smiley embedded in text and used in electronic messages and web pages. The primary function of emoji is to fill in emotional cues otherwise missing from typed conver ...
– 800 emoji were added, plus Emoji Prediction feature, which learns to predict relevant emoji icons * Number Row (a row of number keys) option added, in response to customer requests * New languages, including Belarusian, Mongolian, Tatar, Uzbek and Welsh added


SwiftKey 6

The ''SwiftKey 6'' update was released in November 2015, including: * Double-Word Prediction which adds a new dimension to the predictions you see, predicting your next ''two'' words at once. * A redesign of the emoji panel. * A complete overhaul of the settings menu in the style of
Material Design Material Design (codenamed Quantum Paper) is a design language developed by Google in 2014. Expanding on the "cards" that debuted in Google Now, Material Design uses more grid-based layouts, responsive animations and transitions, padding, an ...
to make it easier to fine tune and customize the keyboard * 5 new languages added: Yoruba, Igbo, Zulu, Xhosa & Breton


SwiftKey 7.0

The SwiftKey 7.0 update was released in March 2018, including: * A new toolbar * The ability for one to use their own stickers directly within the software. * Support for 28 additional languages.


SwiftKey for iOS

SwiftKey released an iOS application on 30 January 2014, called ''Swiftkey Note'', which incorporates SwiftKey's predictive typing technology as a custom
toolbar The toolbar, also called a bar or standard toolbar (originally known as ribbon) is a graphical control element on which on-screen icons can be used. A toolbar often allows for quick access to functions that are commonly used in the program. Some ...
attached to the top of the regular iOS keyboard. Starting with iOS 8, released in the second half of 2014, the operating system enables and support third party keyboards use. SwiftKey confirmed that it was working on a keyboard replacement app. Starting with
iOS 13 iOS 13 is the thirteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. for their iPhone, iPod Touch, and HomePod lines. The successor to iOS 12 on those devices, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Devel ...
, the system keyboard comes with a built in QuickPath mechanism, which works similarly to SwiftKey's swiping feature. SwiftkKey for iOS was announced to be deprecated in September 2022. In November 2022, Microsoft reverted this decision however.


SwiftKey for iPhone

SwiftKey Keyboard for iPhone,
iPad The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating ...
and
iPod Touch The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a music pl ...
launched in September 2014 to coincide with the launch of Apple's iOS 8 update. It was unveiled at TechCrunch Disrupt in
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
. The app includes the word prediction and autocorrection features, familiar to the Android product, SwiftKey Cloud backup and sync and personalization, and a choice of color themes. It reached No. 1 in the free US App Store charts and the company confirmed it had been downloaded more than 1 million times on the first day of launch.


Further development

On 27 February 2012, the SwiftKey SDK was launched. This allows developers on multiple platforms and
programming languages A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also be graphical. They are a kind of computer language. The description of a programming ...
to access SwiftKey's core language-engine technology for their own UI or
virtual keyboard A virtual keyboard is a software component that allows the input of characters without the need for physical keys. The interaction with the virtual keyboard happens mostly via a touchscreen interface, but can also take place in a different form ...
. In June 2012, SwiftKey released a specialized version of its keyboard called SwiftKey Healthcare. It is a virtual keyboard for iOS, Android,
Windows Phone Windows Phone (WP) is a discontinued family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft for smartphones as the replacement successor to Windows Mobile and Zune. Windows Phone featured a new user interface derived from the Metro design lan ...
and
BlackBerry The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus '' Rubus'' in the family Rosaceae, hybrids among these species within the subgenus ''Rubus'', and hybrids between the subgenera ''Rubus'' and ''Idaeobatus''. The taxonomy o ...
devices that offers next-word predictions based on real-world clinical data. In October 2012, SwiftKey Healthcare won the Appsters Award for ''Best Enterprise App 2012''. In April 2016, SwiftKey released a keyboard that emulated
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's speech called ShakeSpeak in observance of the 400th year of the author's death. The app was co-developed with VisitLondon.com to promote more tourism to the metropolitan area of
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. SwiftKey integration was included with Windows 10 beginning with the October 2018 Update. However, these features were later removed from Windows 10 beginning with the May 2020 Update.


Controversy

In 2015, NowSecure reported a vulnerability present in the version of SwiftKey preinstalled on
Samsung The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...
devices, the issue occurred when the keyboard attempts to update its language pack. Samsung has since released security and firmware update to mitigate the issue. However,
TechCrunch TechCrunch is an American online newspaper focusing on high tech and startup companies. It was founded in June 2005 by Archimedes Ventures, led by partners Michael Arrington and Keith Teare. In 2010, AOL acquired the company for approximately ...
published an article on why the issue happened because of how Samsung implemented the keyboard system on its devices. In 2016, SwiftKey users began reporting that the app was displaying personal details as suggested words to other users who did not have previous connections. Other issues included foreign languages and obscene words. SwiftKey responded by disabling cloud sync for word suggestion and released an update to mitigate the issue.


Awards

SwiftKey has received multiple awards, including: * Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 2014 ranked third place * ''Meffy Award for life tools 2014'' * ''Meffy Award for mobile innovation 2013'' * ''Appsters Champion and Best Consumer App 2013'' * ''Lovie Award People's Lovie for mobile innovation 2013'' * ''Most Effective Mobile Application - b2c'', Mobile Marketing Magazine 2010 * ''Community Choice'', AppCircus at DroidCon 2010 * ''CTIA E-Tech Award 2011'', CTIA 2011 * ''Jury Award'', Mobile Premier Awards 2011 Winners of AppCircus Events * ''Most Innovative App'' at the Global Mobile Awards,
Mobile World Congress MWC Barcelona (formerly but still commonly referred to as Mobile World Congress) is an annual trade show organised by GSMA, dedicated primarily to the mobile communications industry. The event is held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain at the ...
2012 * ''The People's Voice''
Webby Award The Webby Awards are awards for excellence on the Internet presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a judging body composed of over two thousand industry experts and technology innovators. Categories includ ...
for Experimental and Innovation 2012 * ''Best Startup Business'', Guardian Innovation Awards 2012 * ''Coolest Tech Innovation'', Europa Awards * ''Lovie Award People's Lovie for mobile innovation 2013''


See also

* List of most downloaded Android applications


References


External links


Official site
{{Microsoft Microsoft subsidiaries Input methods for handheld devices User interface techniques Microsoft acquisitions Android (operating system) software Android virtual keyboards Virtual keyboards 2016 mergers and acquisitions