Report: Google is building an iOS keyboard

The Google Keyboard for Android.

A report from The Verge claims that Google is working on a third-party keyboard for iOS. The site says the keyboard would include "a variety of search options," a description that suggests it will be more than a copy of Google's Android keyboard.

According to the report, the keyboard has "been in development for months," and is "visually distinct" from Google's Android keyboard. The usual Android Google Keyboard features are here, like gesture typing, but on iOS you'll be able to "tap the Google logo" to jump to traditional web search. The report says there are "distinct buttons for pictures and GIF searches," all apparently designed to push users to do more Google Searches.

Apple added support for third-party keyboards in iOS 8, and since then we've seen the usual Android keyboard developers bring over their work. Companies like Swype, Swiftkey, and Fleksy made the jump, and now Google is following suit.

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