The UK-based startup SwiftKey that creates Artificial Intelligence prediction technology, is joining Microsoft as a way to enhance interaction between people and computers.
The company said it was a "milestone" in its history.
SwiftKey was founded in 2008 by Jon Reynolds and Ben Medlock, two Cambridge University graduates, who shared a same belief for better typing on smartphones. Since then, the company's product has been used by hundreds of millions of people around the world, including mobile manufacturers. .
After the said $250 million acquisition, Microsoft still allows SwiftKey to continue developing its apps on Android and iOS for free. SwiftKey's commitment is to improve them in new and innovative ways.
"We owe a lot to the invaluable input of our users, including our 130,000-strong VIP community and the many thousands of others who have been with us since the start," wrote the two founders in a blog post announcing the acquisition. "Their energy, honest feedback and eagerness to share our products have been the driving force behind our growth."