SwiftKey, the popular Android keyboard app that uses text prediction to enable super-fast typing, is now free to all users.
The app, which has been one of the best-selling paid apps in Google Play since its launch in 2012, was previously $3.99.
The
change is a significant shift for the company, which has always charged
for its app. Now, Swiftkey is taking the freemium route; the app is
free to download, but users can pay to purchase new themes for their
keyboard.
Themes
have long been one of the most-requested features for Swiftkey,
according to Joe Braidwood, the company's chief marketing officer.
"We
can now engage much more with the requests that we get and build out
all this great content," Braidwood told Mashable. "This has been one of
the biggest requests for the longest time: 'I love your core technology,
but I want to change this thing about the keyboard.' Having the
SwiftKey store inside of the app allows us to do that."
The
store added 30 new themes, which include both free and paid options.
Users can also purchase packs of themes. Those who have already paid for
the app will automatically get the "Premier Pack" of 10 themes when
they download the update.
The
latest version of Swiftkey features other enhancements, including new
emoji support and emoji prediction for devices running Android 4.1 and
higher. An optional number row, which sits at the top of the keyboard,
is also available.
Behind
the scenes, Swiftkey improved its prediction engine, which enables the
app to learn from users' patterns to predict what they will type before
they type it. The company also revamped its flow-trail feature, which
lets users type by swiping their finger across the keyboard (similar to
Samsung's Swype keyboard).
Swiftkey
is also setting its sights on new iOS offerings in the near future. The
company launched its first iOS app, SwiftKey Note, earlier this year.
And Swiftkey is already planning a full iOS keyboard app now that Apple
announced it will finally make third-party keyboards available in iOS 8.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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