Mobiles Microsoft’s Word Flow keyboard could come to iOS soon: report

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Microsoft’s Word Flow keyboard could come to iOS soon: report

Microsoft wants to bring its Windows Phone keyboard experience to Apple's iOS, according to reports. Lately Microsoft has been embracing competing platforms with its own services and products, so this attempt does not sound surprising.

Microsoft has started testing an early version of its excellent Windows Phone keyboard internally on iOS, says a report at The Verge. Microsoft plans to make the keyboard publicly available to testers very soon.

Microsoft's Windows Phone keyboard offers excellent prediction and its Word Flow includes autocorrect, suggestions and even ability to swipe letters like Swype keyboard. The Verge says, this won't be a direct port, but rather will come with some new design elements to it.

Microsoft's Word Flow keyboard for iOS will feature a one-handed mode, that is different from the Windows Phone version. While Windows Phone version shifts to either side to create a small keyboard, the iOS version uses a fanned layout. It will work on each side allowing use of either hand to swipe letters.

Microsoft will make its Word Flow keyboard for iOS public in the coming months, and the keyboard will make its way to Android later this year, adds the report.

Some of Microsoft's apps have definitely worked well across platforms. For instance, the Outlook app is undoubtedly the best email app on iPhone, and the most downloaded Sunrise Calendar is a Microsoft property. The Redmond based software major recently rolled out its virtual assistant app, Cortana on Android and iOS.

Given that Microsoft sees Windows 10 as more of a service than an OS, and has been trying to increase its presence on iOS and Android, the rollout of the Windows Phone keyboard to iOS appears to be in line with the overall strategy of the company.

We'll have to wait and see how soon Microsoft rolls out the Windows Phone keyboard for users.