Swype for Android makes first appearance in the Play Store

Swype gave their first public demo in 2007, before the launch of Android, and then worked out OEM deals to get this unique keyboard on over 250 million devices to date. Today marks the first time you, as a consumer, can finally download and install the latest version of Swype for 99 cents from the Google Play Store.

I have been testing out this new version of Swype 1.5 on my T-Mobile HTC One and Galaxy Note II for the last few days. Swype was the first keyboard I used on devices with the sliding technique, and I have used it on Android, Symbian, and MeeGo.

I enjoyed using SwiftKey, the Samsung keyboard, and HTC Trace one, but still prefer to use Swype. This latest version from Nuance is more than just a simple and efficient text entry method. Nuance identified four distinct keyboard personas, including:

• Swype’r: Swype’s success is based on its core Swype algorithm and advanced language models — it has set the bar and others have followed. Swype’rs quickly and easily move from one letter to the next, and combined with XT9, Swype predicts words and phrases as they input text making it the fastest input experience available.
• Typer: The Typer uses both hands and enters text as fast as possible without paying much attention to the screen until the end of the sentence. But Typers will not sacrifice accuracy with Swype’s XT9 Sloppy Type algorithms and Smart Touch, which adjusts to typing styles based on where fingers hit the screen. And Swype’s Smart Editor is an added bonus as it suggests edits based on the entire sentence.
• Tapper: The Tapper is methodical and precise and often looks back and forth between the keyboard and the output, making extensive use of Swype’s word completion and next word prediction. Swype has the most robust language models that predict even the longest commonly used phrases. For example, the phrase ”Dancing with the Stars” will appear as an entire phrase just as soon as the word “Dancing” is tapped.
• Dictator: Dictators love the ability to quickly and easily speak their text with the power of Dragon, just by hitting the Dragon flame on the Swype keyboard. Dragon offers incredible flexibility when multitasking, hands-busy, or simply on the go.

I am clearly a Swype'r personality, but am very interested in more testing of the Dragon dictation methodology. What personality trait do you fit into?

Swype has an amazing level of technology inside, including the ability to learn and adapt to your touch habits. There are now 13 keyboard themes, integrated Dragon Mobile Assistant, and more. If your phone doesn't include Swype or has an older version, then I highly recommend you pay the 99 cents for Swype. You can also try it out for free for 30 days.