Swype provides an alternative to the standard Android keyboard, with the key difference being that you can drag your finger across the Swype keyboard from letter to letter without lifting it for faster one-finger typing. The keyboard has developed quite a following over the past year or so, but it’s not that easy to get your hands on these days. A handful of phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S come with Swype preloaded, but since Swype closed its public beta a while back, users haven’t been able to install it on other phones.
Now Swype has
launched a new beta which is open to the public for a limited time. The latest version of Swype is said to be more accurate, supports double-tap-to-edit a word, and adds a voice-to-text button that works with Google Voice Search.
Swype still has no plans to sell its software directly to consumers, and instead plans to continue working with phone makers and wireless carriers to integrate the keyboard into the software that ships with phones. But if you want to try Swype without buying a new phone, now is the time to sign up for the free download.
