Holiday Gift Guide »

Idea: Microsoft should buy SwiftKey

Categories: Ideas and rants
By: , IntoMobile
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 at 1:15 AM

Let’s face it – Microsoft needs to seriously make its mobile platform better in order to grow its market share. Currently iOS and Android are leading the way, leaving little room for another player. As European operators have said it: “No one comes into the store and asks for a Windows phone device.” It’s a big problem for the Redmond giant which eventually wants to become a significant player in mobile space.

So I was thinking how can they do that? The “easiest” option is to do some heavy research and acquire companies with cool mobile technologies. They already got Skype, which will most likely come built-in in the next version of Windows Phone.

How about SwiftKey?

Everyone who tried SwiftKey (at least everyone I know) on an Android device refuses to use any other virtual keyboard app. Microsoft could acquire the company and make its technology available on Windows Phones only. Yeah, it’s a scammy strategy for existing Android users, but that’s the way to build value. The default Windows Phone keyboard is good, but SwiftKey is much better. As a matter of fact, I would make a bold statement calling it the best virtual keyboard ever released. That said, the Ballmer, bankers & co should see it as a nice pray. No matter how much it costs to acquire SwiftKey, it’s a good investment as it will make Windows Phone a better platform.

As an Android user I don’t want to see SwiftKey going away, but if I were at Microsoft I would want to have it on my side…

What do you think about this? Is SwiftKey a good acquisition target for Microsoft? Or perhaps Google should buy it?

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • MrSnowman

    Someone should buy them, personally, I’d like it to be android. Would be a big edge. Others would mimic but whoever buys them have a head-start. But what would be kinda cool is a PC app like swiftkey, there is one, under the same name, under a GNU licence. It’s pretty decent.

  • Daniel

    I´m not sure about buying Swiftkey but they definately need to support third-party keyboards or come up with a keyboard as good as Swiftkey. Having a decent way of typing on these small keyboards is essential.