Microsoft is said to be working to bring their “Word Flow” virtual keyboard for Windows Phones to iOS devices. Word Flow offers Windows Phone users the ability to use gestures and Swype-like finger swiping entry of characters, making text entry easier.
In an email to some Windows Insider testers, obtained by The Verge, Microsoft is looking for iPhone users to trial the Word Flow keyboard. It’s not clear when Word Flow will be released publicly on iOS, but Microsoft is already ready to test it more broadly so it will likely arrive in the coming months. Microsoft’s Windows Phone version of Word Flow includes autocorrect, suggestions, gestures, and the ability to swipe letters (like Swype) to type out words.
Microsoft has recently shown itself to be more willing to share what had previously been “Windows-only” apps and features with users on other platforms. Under CEO Satya Nadella the Redmond firm has brought its Office suite of apps to both the iOS and Android platforms, as well as recently porting its Cortana virtual assistant over to both platforms.
The moves are due to Nadella’s desire to get Microsoft products in front of as many users as possible, no matter what mobile or desktop platform they prefer. While Windows continues to be the preferred desktop operating system, the company’s Windows Phone platform has failed to catch fire, lagging far behind the iOS and Android platforms in sales and user numbers.
