Windows Phone 8.1 Reported to Introduce Swype-like Keyboard

Windows Phone 8.1 is shaping up to be one of the best - if not the best - WP releases ever, and for the sake of shaking things up in the mobile market, I hope that proves to be the case.

A couple of weeks ago, we learned that 8.1 would be introducing an "Action Center", in effect, a notifications system overhaul. For Windows Phone users, this addition seems to be one that can't get here soon enough, so already we're off to a great start.

Now, we learn that the keyboard is also set to be enhanced, with the addition of Swype-like functionality. For those who haven't used Swype, or a competitor, it offers an alternative to tapping on each letter to spell out a word. Instead, you simply tap the first letter, and swipe to each subsequent letter until the word is spelled-out. This means that an entire sentence can be written with just a couple of taps, rather than one for each letter.

This leak comes via a YouTube video (where else?), so it could be taken with a grain of salt. However, as sensible as this feature would be, it's not too hard to believe that it is en route.

As a devout Android user, I admit I don't have a ton of interest in moving over to the Windows Phone side, but I can't help but commend Microsoft for focusing on key functionality and usability with the OS. If this keeps up, we might just see WP become real competition to Android and iOS in the future.