New languages, more themes and all that for free sounds like a college students dream. Britain’s brightest young technology firm (as described by BBC) Swiftkey recently launched its latest version of the Swiftkey keyboard for free, on Google Play shedding its $3.99 price tag. Along with this the company also announces the launch of its own store with the aim to sell new and premium themes for the current version.
Updates in Swiftkey keyboard
The app now offers improved features autocorrect and predictive writing. The suggestions are powered by a database of words which grows along with the use of the app. At the time of setup, an option of allowing access to Facebook, Gmail and Twitter accounts is also given to the users, so as to let the app get accustomed to the user’s style of writing and deductions. Swiftkey also suggests Emoji characters, which makes firing-off quick messages a breeze.
Addition of new themes is another major update, the new default theme is “Nickel” (as it comes next to Cobalt the original theme, in the periodic table) along with a number of new themes to choose from, at the new Swiftkey Store. As a reward for its loyal customers, Swiftkey is offering a premium theme pack of 10 themes worth $4.99, for free.
Some other changes which make the app more convenient include an optional number row on the top, extended support for 66 new languages with the feature to simultaneously use 3 languages at once. Cleaner flow trails and new themes make the layout visually appealing.
Another major step which is still under review process is to develop the app for Apple devices. Till now it was hidden under the alias “Swiftkey Note” but with Apple opening its doors for third party apps, Swiftkey is planning an independent keyboard app for iOS as well.
The motive
The ultimate aim behind setting the app free is to increase its reach all around the world. With the barriers of price and language being removed, the company expects to reach out to millions of new users, especially in developing economies. This move seems to be ambition centered, to enable everyone, everywhere, to use SwiftKey. Swiftkey’s technology has also hit off with many hardware manufacturers who are willing to feature it in their devices, marking the beginning of a new phase in Swiftkey’s history.
