Microsoft confirmed via a blog post that the company will be buying SwiftKey, the developer of a popular software keyboard for Android and iOS phones—even though it already has its own software keyboard, Word Flow.
SwiftKey and Word Flow allow users to slide their finger from one letter of a keyboard to another, drawing the shape of the word while an analytical pattern works to identify the word they’re trying to type.
Microsoft’s executive vice president for technology and research, Harry Shum, confirmed the deal in a blog post Wednesday morning.
In some ways, Microsoft’s move is surprising, as it already has its own software keyboard, Word Flow, and last month announced that it would release versions of Word Flow for Android and iOS, where SwiftKey is already available.
Shum said Microsoft had no plans to shut down SwiftKey’s iOS or Android apps, and promised to continue their development.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.