Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Microsoft may launch its mobile keyboard on multiple platforms, starting with the iPhone

David Curry
By

microsoft project cheshire screenshots windows 10 phone v2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Ever since Satya Nadella took charge of Microsoft, there has been a significant move from the mobile squad to launch apps on Android and iOS. Now it looks like another one of those apps is coming to iPhone — the popular Windows Phone keyboard, Word Flow.

In an email apparently sent to Insiders, Microsoft asks anyone with an iPhone 5S or newer device if they would like to try out the keyboard before it officially launches on the iOS App Store. The email also says that it will release the keyboard to other platforms in the future. It does not mention Android by name, but it’s a fairly safe assumption Google’s mobile OS is on the list.

Recommended Videos

Word Flow is a comprehensive keyboard app, which offers trace functionality for users that enjoy swiping more than typing, along with word suggestions. It also corrects misspellings, lets you input your own words to the dictionary, and learns from your language and word-usage tendencies. Microsoft gloats in the email that Word Flow was used during a world record for typing the fastest text message. It doesn’t mention this was subsequently broken again by Fleksy’s keyboard.

Related

We don’t know a final launch date for Word Flow on iOS, but we suspect it to be available in the next few months if the beta is about to be sent out to testers. If it finally launches — there’s no guarantee at the moment — Microsoft will be in competition with the best keyboards in the business, including SwiftKey, Fleksy, and Apple’s default option. It is a big change compared to Windows Mobile, which doesn’t support third-party keyboards.

Satya Nadella’s plan for Microsoft seems less about the platform, more about getting the services to all potential users. The company has become “platform agnostic”, focused on bringing and maintaining its services on all popular platforms.

That’s good news for iPhone and Android users that enjoy Microsoft’s services, but bad news for fans of Windows Mobile that want apps to stay exclusive to the platform. We don’t know what effect porting the apps to iOS and Android will have in the long run, it might be a good promotion tool for Windows Mobile or the death of the platform due to lack of unique apps and features.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
David Curry
David Curry
Former Digital Trends Contributor
David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…
Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max instead of the iPhone 15 Pro
Someone holding an iPhone 15 Pro Max outside on a patio, showing the back of the Natural Titanium color.

If you want the best iPhone money can buy in 2024, you have two options: the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They have the same chipset, similar display technology, nearly identical cameras, etc. It's a really close battle, save for the fact that the iPhone 15 Pro is $200 cheaper.

It might be tempting to save some cash and choose the iPhone 15 Pro, but I recommend you splurge for the larger (and more expensive) iPhone 15 Pro Max. Why? Let me explain.
It's a big iPhone you won't hate using

Read more
This one thing could make iOS 18 the best iPhone update in years
The Home Screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple’s WWDC 2024 is just a couple of months away. As with every WWDC, we’ll see what Apple has in store for the next generation of software across its hardware portfolio, including the iPhone with iOS 18.

Rumors have been swirling about iOS 18 and how it will be “one of the biggest updates yet.” We know some features like RCS support in Messages are definitely coming, with other whispers of big home screen customization changes and more.

Read more
This is our best look yet at the iPhone 16’s big design changes
iPhone 15 Pro in Natural Titanium held in hand in front of a cement brick wall.

It seems Apple is prepping yet another design refresh for its smartphones this fall season. In 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro made an aesthetic deviation by serving thinner bezels and titanium looks alongside a new multi-function button. This year, it’s going to be the entry-point iPhone 16 and its Plus variant that are apparently lined up for a design refresh.

Tech commentator Sonny Dickson has shared dummy units reportedly depicting all four iPhone 16 variants, which seem to confirm what previous leaks have predicted so far. On the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the camera lenses dance diagonally on a square bump. Apple is reportedly ditching the current camera arrangement for their respective successors in favor of a pill-shaped vertical setup.

Read more