It's official. SwiftKey is getting discontinued from Apple App Stores, ending Microsoft's support for the iOS version effective on October 5.
Microsoft officially pulls the plug on SwiftKey for iOS, delisting it from Apple devices, but clarifies that customers who have installed it prior will still be able to use it until manually uninstalled or until the device is replaced.
Speculations are Brewing After the Controversial Move
SwiftKey, a free predictive keyboard app that helps users type faster, uses advanced algorithms to predict text using language processing technology and has been available on iOS since 2014.
Although there has not been an official statement from Microsoft as to why they decided to discontinue the app on iOS, The Verge reports that the move was in response to user complaints that kept coming unresolved.
For over a year, Microsoft has not updated the app for Apple users despite its regular rollout of updates, raising more suspicion about the real reason for the pullout.
An article by ZDNet also speculates that this move could be related to Apple's policies regarding the safeguarding of access to interfaces, which restricts the extent and range the applications in its app stores require.
ZDNet elaborates that the Microsoft Phone Link team recognizes that there needs to be access to certain interfaces to make a good way for a product to work in integration, which, unfortunately, Apple does not grant easily.
While there is no direct restriction issued regarding SwiftKeys, it is believed that Apple would prefer to prioritize its "privacy-first" policy over the continuance of the app in their stores.
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Worry Not, Users: May Still Use SwiftKey for Android
As SwiftKey disappears from the Apple App Stores, Microsoft reassures its Android user community that it is planning to continue its support in the future.
"Microsoft will continue support for SwiftKey Android as well as the underlying technology that powers the Windows touch keyboard," confirms Chris Wolfe, the director of product management at SwiftKey, to The Verge.
In the last year, this partnership between Windows and Android brought clipboard syncing across their devices, while those for iOs were discontinued quietly.
According to 9to5Mac, iPhone users who still do not have it might need to download the app before October 5 if they want to enjoy the features of SwiftKey before it says goodbye.
SwiftKey was the best-selling paid app on Google Play between the years 2012 to 2013 before Microsoft acquired it in 2016. At that time, Microsoft was establishing its presence in the mobile space by procuring partnerships with iOS and Android companies.
Microsoft SwiftKeys not only allow users to type faster based on their writing styles, but it also autocorrects manually and provides users with customizable keyboards with a variety of themes available to enjoy based on users' preference, as well as emojis, GIFs, and more.
