SwiftKey Keyboard for Android Adds Web Search to the App

A few months ago, the popular mobile keyboard app, SwiftKey, rolled out a translation tool that enables users to translate conversations in over 60 languages. Now the Microsoft-owned Android app has added a web search function that lets people search the web directly from the keyboard app.

According to product manager, Colleen Hall, the team behind SwiftKey are always trying to improve mobile typing experience, "to make typing and messaging faster and smarter for our users,"

"By having search right there in the keyboard, users can browse for information and share it with their contacts without leaving the conversation, whether that's for quick fact-finding, checking the local weather or sharing news headlines and images in message," said Colleen Hall.

Since SwiftKey is owned by Microsoft, it should come as no surprise that the new search function on the app is powered by Microsoft’s own search engine, Bing.

By using the search function on SwiftKey, you don't have to jump from one app to another do your search. For example, let's say a friend you're chatting with on WhatsApp asks you for recommendations on hotel reservations in your area. Rather than switching from WhatsApp to Google to do your search, you simply bring up the little toolbar at the top of the keyboard, enter your search criteria, and share the links or screenshots of what you find with your friend.

While typing the words into the search box will bring up a number of results, typing a specific web address will take you directly to that website.

The new search function is a very useful addition to the Android mobile app. Google already had its own web search function on its own Gboard keyboard app, though of course it uses Google.

SwiftKey in-app web search is currently only available on Android in 11 markets: the U.S., U.K., India, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Brazil. Plans are underway to make it available in other countries.