Microsoft buys Swiftkey for reported USD 250 mln cash

News Wireless Global 3 FEB 2016
Microsoft buys Swiftkey for reported USD 250 mln cash

Swiftkey co-founder Jon Reynolds and Ben Medlock announced the company’s acquisition by Microsoft, for an undisclosed amounted. TechCrunch cited sources that put the acquisition price at around USD 250 million in cash.

The UK-based start-up employs artificial intelligence to create a predictive smartphone keyboard. The co-founders said the company’s focus will not change and that its apps will still be available on Android and iOS, free.

The company previously raised a total of USD 21.59 million from Octopus Ventures and Index Ventures, and UK celebrity Stephen Fry was an early angel investor. SwiftKey’s keyboard and SDK is installed on more than 300 million Android and iOS smartphones.

Microsoft confirmed the acquisition and said it will work on integrating the Swiftkey technology in its own products and services, including its Word Flow technology for Windows. 

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Mobile

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Microsoft

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Global

Tags:

IT - applications, Handsets, M&A buyouts & divestments

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