14 DAY TRIAL // Google is reportedly working on its very own keyboard for the iPhone that’s supposed to boost the number of searches conducted by mobile users, but at the same time provide them with features such as image and GIF search.
After Microsoft purchased SwiftKey, which is currently one of the most popular third-party keyboards on both Android and iOS, Google is also working on a similar alternative specifically aimed at iPhone users, according to a report by The Verge.
Google’s own keyboard is already being used by the company’s engineers behind closed doors and could be released later this year if the testing process is successful.
With this new keyboard, Google is specifically looking into ways to make search a more common activity on smartphones, as statistics have shown that only a small percentage of mobile users look for information online.
Search features integrated into the keyboard
As a result, Google’s keyboard will come with the traditional keyboard layout and feature gesture-based typing, which is pretty much Google’s own version of WordFlow – users only have to swipe fingers across the keyboard from one letter to another and let the app predict and autocorrect the word.
And since it wants to boost the search business, Google will also offer a quick search option that can be accessed by tapping the Google logo. Typing a keyword in this box instantly launches the search in the default browser.
At the same time, Google will also offer a traditional image and GIF search, which will most likely be powered by its search engine, similar to other third-party keyboards currently available on both Android and iOS.
It remains to be seen if Google’s new keyboard can compete against the default version and SwiftKey, but it’s very clear that competition for more space on the iPhone screen is getting fiercer every day. The only thing that Google needs to do is to come up with a strong reason to convince users to install its app, because searching capabilities are certainly not enough.