SwiftKey Beta for Android gains integrated Bing search

By Richard Devine
published

It's fairly limited right now, but SwiftKey will allow you to search the web without leaving what you're typing.

Microsoft's SwiftKey keyboard on Android is getting some added functionality, with integrated Bing search implemented into the latest beta version of the application. Anyone can download it from the Play Store right now and take it for a spin.

In the bar above the word suggestions now you'll see a small search box on the left-hand side which, when tapped, pops out and allows you to perform a Bing search. It doesn't matter which app you're currently in as you won't have to leave it.

The feature is fairly basic, and not quite on the same level as Google's Gboard, but it certainly has its uses. From the web search which just pops up over your current app you can either share a URL or snap and crop a screenshot to do the same with.

It works pretty well for what it is, and it's a nice addition to SwiftKey.

The SwiftKey Beta also adds some language improvements, including a new Arabic layout. If you want to give it a whirl yourself, hit the Play Store and grab it at the link below.

See at Google Play (opens in new tab)

Richard Devine
Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

26 Comments
  • SwiftKey, like Launcher appears to be another way in which MS is trying to integrate themselves into the Android platform.
  • It's OK, they are just a couple apps in their collection of 90+ (I stopped scrolling) available in Google Play.
  • Yup! Seems like killing off W10M was the best decision Microsoft ever made. Office 365 subs are up. Stock prices soaring. And as hard a pill as it is to swallow, UWP devs targeting mobile devices are no longer forced to wait around hoping and praying for a Surface phone that will likely never happen. Thanks to Nadella they finally have some closure and can move on from yesterday's Visual Studio to today's Android Studio.
  • The translation feature is pretty cool too.
  • yeah, works really well. it's a lot of fun
  • When SwiftKey started censoring gifs I stopped using it sadly. Still waiting for them to uncensor gifs
  • Waiting for the "nub cursor" from Windows 10 Mobile.
  • Do other keyboards on Android or iOS not have that? I use it all the time on Windows 10 Mobile and can't imagine not having it. It's a necessity.
  • I'd switch if it had that.
  • I'm sorry, I don't know what that is. Can you describe it? Sounds like the red eraser button thingy on Lenovo laptop keyboards.
  • That's basically exactly what it was but only usable to navigate text, and it was fantastic.
  • You can put the arrow keys at the bottom of the keyboard. It actually works better for me than the button with the arrows around it.
  • On Android some keyboards, like the Google keyboard I think and other manufacturers, let you slide your finger on the space bar to move the cursor left and right.
    On IOS you hard press on the keyboard and then slide left and right.
    On SwiftKey, while a good keyboard, it doesnt have this feature but it does have arrow keys you can enable that show up on the bottom
  • Has the "swipe" word recognition improved any? I tried it on my Pixel 2 a few months ago, and was quite disappointed. While the Pixel's stock keyboard is nowhere near as good as the one was on my Windows Phone, it easily outdid the SwiftKey keyboard in my brief trial.
  • Honestly, I find Google's native keyboard and SwiftKey to be on par. That is, not amazing. Swipe-style keyboards have a lot of work ahead to make them really great. The honest truth is I don't really know why they aren't better. Maybe some ML could help out. Whatever the case is, old touch-based T9 keyboards have always seemed faster to me. The "AI" in SwiftKey just isn't smart enough.
  • Ok, that's pretty nice, BUT! does that search count towards our MSFT points?
  • Another way to get those sweet sweet Microsoft Reward Points easy
  • How?
  • A Bing search on mobile is worth 3 points (here in Australia) whether in Edge or the Bing app so one would expect that this, being a Bing search, would also be worth 3 points, regardless of what app you're in at the time.
  • Hopefully, the SwiftKey Bing search will actually give you points.
  • Just switched from Gapps to MSapps. SwiftKey is one of the best they've made. This Bing's feature in SwiftKey is a very appreciated function.
  • I love the Microsoft Launcher app, but it needs some work. It's as smooth as it should or could be, it lags when coming out of apps etc... I just found a ios Launcher and it is really smooth so there's no excuse for Microsoft devs.
  • No lag for me
  • My kids low end LG phone runs it perfectly smooth but every launcher lags a bit on my Galaxy 8. No idea why.
  • Same experience here. Samsung doesn't believe in "Don't be evil." (Then again, neither does Google ...)
  • On Android some keyboards, like the Google keyboard I think and other manufacturers, let you slide your finger on the space bar to move the cursor left and right.
    On IOS you hard press on the keyboard and then slide left and right.
    On SwiftKey, while a good keyboard, it doesnt have this feature but it does have arrow keys you can enable that show up on the bottom.