Why doesn't RIM acquire Swiftkey?

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 01:13 PM

We all know by now that the keyboard RIM showed off at BBWorld was created by Swiftkey with a little bit of TAT juice thrown in.
I use Swiftkey on my Android device (and PlayBook) and really love it. In fact it has become my favorite keyboard. It really is to touch screen keyboards what Blackberry is to traditional keyboards.

For this reason, I am perplexed as to why RIM seems content to license Swiftkey product. Blackberry phones have long been distinguished by their keyboards. I don't understand why they don't lock up Swiftkey - especially seeing as they seem intent on using their product as their default touchscreen keyboard.

Any thoughts?

**DenverRalphy** · 05-07-2012, 01:16 PM

Just a guess, but I'd say it's because SwiftKey has no intention of being bought.

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 01:21 PM

In which case, RIM is taking a big risk claiming their product as an innovation. I am using a Swiftkey keyboard on my Android device right now. It works exactly like the demoed keyboard from the BBWorld keynote and is highly customizable. If I was RIM I would be making very generous offers.

**eve6er69** · 05-07-2012, 01:42 PM

swifykey is nice but they now have TAT and spend alot of money on them. im sure TAT has some better ideas than swifkey does.

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 01:45 PM

But TAT would still be building on top of the Swiftkey base. Not sure TAT has the ability to design the kind of entry behavior and predictive system Swiftkey has engineered.

**Rello** · 05-07-2012, 02:34 PM

Where did they actually reveal that the BB10 keyboard was made by Swiftkey?

**Mystic205** · 05-07-2012, 02:38 PM

unless there is inherent protected intellectual property at swiftkey then its not really a candidate for acquisition... and given swiftkey already makes keyboards for android......

**Davec1234** · 05-07-2012, 02:58 PM

SwiftKey is awesome, I'm on beta 3.
Don't even need to hit the space bar.

**DenverRalphy** · 05-07-2012, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by eve6er69

swifykey is nice but they now have TAT and spend alot of money on them. im sure TAT has some better ideas than swifkey does.

TAT is all about the UI elements. The keyboard is completely outside the scope of purpose behind TAT.

**JAGWIRE** · 05-07-2012, 03:07 PM

Ya id like to see where this new touch screen keyboard is by or based off Swiftkey... If it is then im sure RIM has a licance agreement with them. Thorsten did say that he was going to be more focused and that means talking to other companies and piecing them together to make OS10

**Masahiro** · 05-07-2012, 03:12 PM

The only thing these two keyboards have in common is the word prediction, which a lot of other keyboards have as well.

**DenverRalphy** · 05-07-2012, 03:20 PM

While there haven't been any official announcements, there are a few telling clues which are pretty much obvious.

Here's one... Uncovered: BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Uses SwiftKey Keyboard!

**Thunderbuck** · 05-07-2012, 03:27 PM

Why buy the whole company? Presumably RIM is licensing the technology for a lot less.

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 03:43 PM

Not sure this was officially revealed. But those of us who already use Swiftkey recognize the features. The only obvious TAT/RIM addition is that word predictions 'float' on the keyboard, rather than line the top like current Android/PlayBook versions of Swiftkey.

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 03:45 PM

I agree. But I would want this particular technology to be in-house. It is that good. Plus, if another company acquires Swiftkey, RIM loses one of their key BB10 USPs.

**604778** · 05-07-2012, 03:47 PM

Plus, if you've actually used Swiftkey on a phone, you recognize features such as swipe back to delete.

**Davec1234** · 05-07-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by 604778

I agree. But I would want this particular technology to be in-house. It is that good. Plus, if another company acquires Swiftkey, RIM loses one of their key BB10 USPs.

RIM bought documents to go and I still have it on my android and it still gets updated in market.

**n8ter#AC** · 05-07-2012, 06:18 PM

that doesnt mean apple will keep the bb support after the contract runs out if they buy swiftkey, for example...

**BBPandy** · 05-07-2012, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by N8ter

that doesnt mean apple will keep the bb support after the contract runs out if they buy swiftkey, for example...

Yea if Apple were to buy them they would screw everyone else.....They are the only company I can think of that would do such a thing....Why play fair when you can just follow the Steve Job's Playbook & screw everyone for an extra 0.002 cents?

**psufan32** · 05-07-2012, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by davecbb8330

SwiftKey is awesome, I'm on beta 3.
Don't even need to hit the space bar.

Beta 3 is such a nice update. It is every bit as good as the iPhone keyboard. RIM made a great choice partnering with Swiftkey.

**xandermac** · 05-07-2012, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by eve6er69

swifykey is nice but they now have TAT and spend alot of money on them. im sure TAT has some better ideas than swifkey does.

More tat vaporware? That's what we need.

**boldkeyboardholic** · 05-07-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by 604778

Not sure this was officially revealed. But those of us who already use Swiftkey recognize the features. The only obvious TAT/RIM addition is that word predictions 'float' on the keyboard, rather than line the top like current Android/PlayBook versions of Swiftkey.

I actually thought that exactly that is the new and interesting thing.

So Swiftkey and the shown keyboard are not the same technology...

That the words are predicted an shown on the next predicted key. Or did I misunderstood your comment?

**DenverRalphy** · 05-07-2012, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by psufan32

Beta 3 is such a nice update. It is every bit as good as the iPhone keyboard. RIM made a great choice partnering with Swiftkey.

Beta 3? Even SwiftKey version 1 is better than the iOS keyboard.

**ubizmo** · 05-07-2012, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by boldkeyboardholic

I actually thought that exactly that is the new and interesting thing.

I agree. To me, having to select a predicted word that's displayed above the keyboard breaks the continuity of typing. So even though I haven't tried it, I'm very intrigued by the way BB10 handles predictive text. And yes, I consider that a very real innovation. Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference.

I wonder if RIM has an exclusive right to that particular innovation, for a year or two at least. Does anyone have any idea how that might work?

**DenverRalphy** · 05-07-2012, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by ubizmo

I wonder if RIM has an exclusive right to that particular innovation, for a year or two at least. Does anyone have any idea how that might work?

If they do, I would speculate that it would be for less than, or no more than, a year. I doubt SwiftKey would be very keen on the exclusivity for too long in fear they'll lose business on other platforms when other keyboard apps emulate the same or similar functionality.