Apple | Mobile |
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Business Dev & Design Entertainment | Social Media Tech Web Video |
Apple | Mobile |
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Business Dev & Design Entertainment | Social Media Tech Web Video |
Develops and provides onscreen keyboard-based text input solutions.
Year Established: | 2002 |
Funding: | 7.9 |
Address: | Seattle, WA 98103 |
Telephone: | |
Mobile: | |
Fax: | |
Mail: | info@swypeinc.com |
Company URL: | http://www.swypeinc.com |
The basics:
The Not-So-Basics:
We are looking for experienced individuals who value the balance between life and work and (and are good at both.) You must be conscientious about quality ready to play a diverse and rapidly evolving role in a small company and be a decent fun person to work with. If you meet those criteria – read on!
Industry veterans Rob Burgess and Ross Bott Join Board of Directors
February 15 2010
Barcelona ââ¬â Mobile World Congress ââ¬â February 15 2010 ââ¬â Swype an innovative text input technology today announced it raised $1 million in series B extension funding led by DOCOMO Capital Inc. bringing the companyââ¬â¢s combined series B funding to $6.6 million. Joining Nokia Growth Partners and Samsung Ventures DOCOMO Capitalââ¬â¢s support reinforces the confidence placed in Swypeââ¬â¢s innovative technology by leading carriers and device manufacturers around the world. The new funding will allow the company to focus on expanding Swypeââ¬â¢s global footprint broadening its language support and launching the technology across multiple platforms and devices.
"As we look to deploy Swype internationally NTT DOCOMO Japanââ¬â¢s leading mobile operator makes a great strategic partner in introducing Swype to the Japanese and Asian markets" said Mike McSherry CEO of Swype. "Along with Nokia Growth Partners and Samsung Ventures DOCOMO Capitalââ¬â¢s support further validates our superior product and technology in the market today."
"Swypeââ¬â¢s cutting edge technology is changing the way people communicate on touch-screen devices and with high levels of accuracy" said Tomoya Hemmi President and CEO of DOCOMO Capital. "With the proliferation of touch-screen devices worldwide there is tremendous potential for Swypeââ¬â¢s technology to revolutionize text input."
Swypeââ¬â¢s patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard users can enter text at over 40 words per minute. Equally important the underlying software provides a high degree of error tolerance making it easy for first time users to successfully enter text.
Swype also announced the addition of prominent technology visionaries Rob Burgess former CEO of Macromedia and Ross Bott CEO of SEVEN to its board of directors.
ââ¬Â¢ Rob Burgess is the former CEO of Macromedia where he led the company for over 10 years prior to its sale to Adobe Systems. During his tenure as chairman and CEO of Macromedia Flash became the most pervasive multimedia platform in the digital world available on 98% of browsers worldwide. Rob remains on the board of Adobe Systems.
ââ¬Â¢ Ross Bott is the CEO of SEVEN a leading supplier of messaging and push applications and infrastructure for wireless carriers and handset OEMs. Previously he served as CEO of Onebox COO of Phone.com and held senior executive positions at Adobe Openwave Silicon Graphics and other companies.
Swype currently supports 30 languages and is developing a Japanese version for release later this year. Swype is designed to work across a variety of operating systems and devices such as phones tablets game consoles kiosks televisions and GPS units among others.
About Swype
Swypeââ¬â¢s patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard users can enter text at over 30 words per minute. Swype was developed by experts in computing and mobile phone text input technologies. Cliff Kushler founder and CTO is a co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on over 4 billion mobile phones. Co-founder Randy Marsden developed the on-screen keyboard software that has shipped on over 500 million copies of Microsoft Windows. For more information visit: www.swypeinc.com
About DOCOMO Capital
DOCOMO Capital Inc. is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT DOCOMO INC. (NYSE:DCM) the leading mobile operator based in Japan. Working closely with NTT DOCOMOââ¬â¢s business and R&D divisions DOCOMO Capital is in charge of NTT DOCOMOââ¬â¢s strategic investments in mobile communications related start-up companies mainly in the United States. For further information visit: www.docomo-capital.com
Swype Expands to Android⢠platform with new T-Mobile® myTouch® 3G
February 10 2010
Seattle WA ââ¬â Swype an innovative text input technology and T-Mobile USA Inc. today announced the integration of Swypeââ¬â¢s intuitive text input solution into T-Mobile touch screen devices starting with the new version of the popular T-Mobile myTouch 3G the companyââ¬â¢s latest Android-powered device which is available beginning today. T-Mobile also plans to integrate Swype into a number of future devices including the HTC HD2 an upcoming Windows Mobileî Phone from T-Mobile which is expected to be available this spring.
"T-Mobile has always been on the forefront of introducing new devices and ground breaking technologies and now has embraced Swypeââ¬â¢s stunningly responsive text input for its touch screen lineup" said Mike McSherry CEO Swype. "Launching on the Android platform is a major milestone for Swype as we continue to expand to new touch screen devices and platforms."
George Harrison vice president marketing product innovation T-Mobile USA said "Consumers have been vocal in their demand for a more intuitive and efficient way to use a virtual keyboard on touch screen devices. As T-Mobile continues to drive innovation for the benefit of our customers the addition of Swype to T-Mobile products places our customers at the forefront of this new solution."
Swypeââ¬â¢s software allows for a high degree of error tolerance and provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch screens. The touch screen market for mobile phones continues to grow rapidly in the US and Swype is poised to revolutionize this space with its ease of use and intuitive technology across multiple platforms.
Swype is designed to work across a variety of operating systems and devices such as phones tablets game consoles televisions and GPS units among others. Its impressive multi-lingual vocabulary currently supports over 30 languages and Swypeââ¬â¢s adaptive function allows it to learn new words phone numbers and more data unique to its owner.
myTouch is a registered trademark of T-Mobile USA. Google and Android are trademarks of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.
About Swype
Swypeââ¬â¢s patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard users can enter text at over 30 words per minute. Swype was developed by experts in computing and mobile phone text input technologies. Cliff Kushler founder and CTO is a co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on over 4 billion mobile phones. Co-founder Randy Marsden developed the on-screen keyboard software that has shipped on over 500 million copies of Microsoft Windows. For more information visit: www.swypeinc.com
About T-Mobile USA Inc.
Based in Bellevue Wash. T-Mobile USA Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2009 almost 151 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group ââ¬â 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA ââ¬â all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS the worldââ¬â¢s most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobileââ¬â¢s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.
Innovative Text Input Company Backed by Benaroya Capital Nokia Growth Partners and Samsung Ventures
December 15 2009
Seattle WA ââ¬â Swype an innovative text input technology today announced that it has secured $5.6 million in Series B financing led by Nokia Growth Partners Samsung Ventures and returning investor Benaroya Capital. The infusion will be used to further fuel Swypeââ¬â¢s partnerships integrating Swype technology into more mobile handsets and ultimately expand to other touch and remote screen devices.
"The level of confidence shown by investors in our Series B especially coming from two of the largest device manufacturers in the world and a returning investor demonstrates the viability of our product and the known added value it can bring to mobile devices" said Mike McSherry CEO of Swype. "Weââ¬â¢re thrilled with these strategic partners and look forward to launching Swype on a number of new devices and platforms."
John Gardner partner at Nokia Growth Partners said "UI technology is a key part of our view of the growing mobile market. We are delighted to participate in this round of funding for Swype enabling them to bring their cutting-edge technology to more mobile and touch-screen devices."
Swypeââ¬â¢s intuitive and patented new technology which provides a faster way to input text on touchscreens recently launched on its first consumer device the Samsung Omnia II.
"We are excited about the significant potential associated with Swypeââ¬â¢s innovative technology" said Brian Kang Managing Director at Samsung Ventures America. "We believe that Swype is playing a leadership role in the evolution of mobile user interfaces and is providing an exciting breakthrough technology that can be implemented in a variety of ways."
Swype is faster than existing text entry methods because it has built-in intelligence that doesnââ¬â¢t require users to hit each letter accurately. Swype is designed to work across a variety of operating systems and devices such as phones tablets game consoles kiosks televisions and GPS units among others.
John Carleton Managing Director at Benaroya Capital said "We are pleased to continue our support of the Swype team as they enter the consumer marketplace. The company continues to meet and exceed its milestones and is deploying a truly game changing technology.
About Swype
Swypeââ¬â¢s patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard users can enter text at over 30 words per minute. Swype was developed by experts in computing and mobile phone text input technologies. Cliff Kushler founder and CTO is a co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on over 4 billion mobile phones. Co-founder Randy Marsden developed the on-screen keyboard software that has shipped on over 500 million copies of Microsoft Windows. For more information visit: www.swypeinc.com
About Nokia Growth Partners
Nokia Growth Partners is a leading global growth stage venture firm focused on mobile technology services and media. Nokia Growth Partners is funded by Nokia to provide superior returns and investments into companies firms and people that are changing the face of mobility communications and the internet. Nokia Growth Partners works closely with the promising companies adding value through deep domain expertise and network in the mobility market combined with many years of venture investment experience. Nokia Growth Partners offers companies in which it invests a global engagement model through its presence in the U.S. Europe and Asia. For more information visit: www.nokiagrowthpartners.com
About Samsung Ventures America
Samsung Ventures America (SVA) is the US operation of Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC) the venture capital arm of the Samsung Group. SVA and SVIC collectively manage over $400 million tracking closely to the strategic priorities of Samsung Electronicsââ¬â¢ and other Group companiesââ¬â¢ core operating divisions and encompassing investments in semiconductors displays telecommunications and consumer electronics. For more information visit: www.samsungventures.com.
About Benaroya Capitol
Benaroya Capital Company has been an active early-stage investor in Pacific Northwest technology companies since its inception in 1995 with a focus on imbedded mobile applications and SaaS technologies. Its $40 million portfolio is managed by John T. Carleton (johnc@benaroya.com. Representative investments are Tegic Communications Cequint and Swype in mobile and Avalara AdmitOne Security and Veratect in SaaS. For more information visit: www.benaroya.com.
Launches on Samsung Omnia II on December 2
December 1 2009
Seattle WA ââ¬â Swype an innovative text input technology today announced its first consumer launch on one of the hottest smartphones set to hit the market the Samsung Omniaî IIââ¢. Swype is a cutting edge new application featured exclusively on the Samsung Omnia II.
Swypeââ¬â¢s patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard users can enter text at over 30 words per minute. Equally important the underlying software provides a high degree of error tolerance making it easy for first time users to successfully enter text.
"Weââ¬â¢re very excited to launch Swype on the Samsung Omnia II a leading edge device with a responsive and vibrant screen perfect for Swype input" said Mike McSherry CEO of Swype."With the growing popularity of touch-screen devices spanning across a variety of consumer products the potential for Swypeââ¬â¢s technology is extremely good."
"With the Omnia series we bring the most innovative new technologies and features to our customers and we are thrilled the Omnia II will be the first handset to introduce Swype in the U.S. market" said Gavin Kim vice president content data services & enterprise mobility Samsung Telecommunications America. "The Omnia IIs user interface has been customized to provide touch-optimized usability making Swype the ideal application for touch screen text input."
Created by Cliff Kushler co-inventor of the T9 predictive text technology which is currently used on over 4 billion mobile phones worldwide Swype is set to again revolutionize the way users communicate via text input. With a database of over 65000 of the most frequently used words Swypeââ¬â¢s adaptive function also allows it to regularly learn new words phrases phone numbers and more data unique to its owner. Swype is designed to work across a variety of operating systems and devices such as phones tablets game consoles kiosks televisions and GPS units among others.
About Swype
Swype was developed by experts in computing and mobile phone text input technologies. Cliff Kushler founder and CTO is a co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on over4 billion mobile phones. Co-founder Randy Marsden developed the on-screen keyboard software that has shipped on over 500 million copies of Microsoft Windows.
By JBC Nokia Conversations
November 10 2009
ESPOO Finland ââ¬â Things are moving on apace at The Symbian Foundation as Shaun Puckrin head of developer services at the Foundation told us this morning. The first handsets running S^2 should be appearing in the first half of 2010 but itââ¬â¢ll be the second half when weââ¬â¢ll see a big leap through the release of the first S^3 based devices. Right now there are 466 features being developed for S^3 and S^4 and weââ¬â¢ve had a little insight into what kind of things we can expect to see.
Open source is the foundation of The Symbian Foundation and industry collaboration is helping to rapidly develop a new generation of mobile operating system. As Shaun says "itââ¬â¢s about the community building the ideas". He highlights Swype as an example of this in practice. The companyââ¬â¢s finger-tracing text entry is innovative on its own but as part of a wider project it can become a key part of the new operating system.
NFC (Near Field Communications) plays a key part of the next generation of Symbian. Expected to first appear in S^3 and S^4 handsets NFC will be fully integrated and have an API for developers to integrate it in other products. This would make it easier for devices to pair with stereos at home your car or as weââ¬â¢ve seen as a payment device. The social web too plays a part. Rather than viewing it in silos as tends to happen now The Symbian Foundation folks are working on a social web API thatââ¬â¢ll enable manufacturers and developers to easily integrate key social sites right into the device. Facebook friends in your contacts list anyone?
Thanks to a new graphics engine we can expect to see a big jump in the user interface too. "Surfaces" enable users to quickly and easily get access to the information they want and in the demo which isnââ¬â¢t a working example it certainly looks pretty cool.
Overall not only does everything at The Symbain Foundation look to be on track but itââ¬â¢s gathering some serious momentum.
» View Article on Nokia Conversations
Julie H. Case/ Seattle Business Monthly
September 1 2009
Think of it like this: If your old-fashioned stylus allowed you to draw rather barbaric shapes by running your finger or pen across a touch screen Swype allows you to spell out "barbaric" by merely running your finger from letter to letter
Josh Lowensohn / CNET
June 1 2009
Keyboard technology may not seem as exciting as faster microprocessors massive displays or ever-decreasing form factors but in many ways its just as important to computing. Seattle-based Swype is trying to leave its mark on the evolution of user input by making "pecking" at keys obsolete.
TechCrunch
January 10 2009
Swype was nominated in the Best Technology Innovation/Achievement category where we eventually lost to Microsofts Live Mesh and Facebook Connect. I guess if you have to lose youd rather lose to these guys...
Xconomy
May 28 2009
Seattle-area software startups AdReady Swype and TeachStreet won "best in show" at the Washington Technology Industry Associationââ¬â¢s Fast Pitch Forum and Tech Showcase yesterday.
Techcrunch50
September 11 2008
Viddler
September 9 2008
CNET News
September 9 2008 ââ¬â T9 developer Cliff Kushler has developed a new keyboard entry method for touchscreen devices. We tried it. Its awesome.
Techzulu
September 9 2008 ââ¬â Newly launched Swype unveiled a powerful technology today at the TechCrunch50 event that will change the way people input text on any screen.
PCMAG.com
September 9 2008 ââ¬â Upstart technology conference TechCrunch50 (TC50) kicked off its second annual event under foggy San Francisco skies Monday morning with a lineup of 52 early-stage startup companies (and their technologies).
Swype won over judges with a new technology...
September 9 2008 ââ¬â At a product demonstration event hosted by the MIT Venture Lab three months ago Swype won over judges (I was among them) with a new technology that allowed mobile phone users to input text using a finger by drawing lines between letters on a keypad.
Swype turns a stylus into a keyboard
September 9 2008 ââ¬â Usage of SMS and chat on mobile phones is growing by leaps and bounds but thereââ¬â¢s nothing quite as painful as trying to type out a long message on a keypad or touch interface. Swype is the one company Iââ¬â¢ve seen that might be able to change that.
CNET News weighs in.
September 9 2008 ââ¬â After the last on-stage pitch at the TechCrunch50 conference on Tuesday co-host Jason Calacanis asked the assembled panel of four judges which of two companies Fitbit or Swype they would invest a million dollars in if those were their only options.
Company and Technology Launched at TechCrunch50 Event Where it Was Honored as One of Top 50 New Technology Companies
Seattle WA ââ¬â September 9 2008 ââ¬â Swype unveiled a new technology that will change the way people input text on any screen today at the TechCrunch50 event in San Francisco where it was recognized as one of the top 50 new technology companies of 2008. Created by Cliff Kushler the co-inventor of the T9 predictive text technology which is used on almost three billion phones worldwide Swype provides a faster and easier way to input text on any screen
Swype is an amazing gesture-based data entry system that truly blew our collective minds at TC CG and MC.
Seattle WA ââ¬â San Francisco September 9 2008 To type you simply connect letters together using a stylus or finger and predictive text to pick letters and words out of seemingly unintelligible squiggles.
The inventor of the T9 keyboard technology for numeric keypads Cliff Kushler is back in the game..
September 9 2008 The inventor of the T9 keyboard technology for numeric keypads Cliff Kushler is back in the game with a new alphanumeric entry technology for todays devices: touch-screen laptops and smartphones. His new technology Swype is quite simple to use although beneath the user interface theres a lot going on.
CRUNCHGEAR
September 9 2008 To type you simply connect letters together using a stylus or finger and predictive text to pick letters and words out of seemingly unintelligible squiggles.
But is it any good? Well I think with Swype you need to see it to believe it.
September 9 2008 I havenââ¬â¢t yet. But I intend popping by their stand to find out more. Swype will itââ¬â¢s founders contend change the way people input text on any screen at all. Iââ¬â¢m well up for a good solution.
Benaroya Capital Company,Nokia Growth Partners,Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC)
Mike McSherry – CEO
Mike McSherry is an experienced internet and mobile entrepreneurial executive. He was the co-founder of both Amp’d Mobile and Boost Mobile. At Amp’d Mike was the SVP Emerging Technologies and was involved in all strategy, service and platform strategies. At Boost, Mike led the product management and data services team and was a key founder in both the Australian and US launches. Prior to Boost, Mike co-founded and sold ZIVO which was the largest Interactive Agency in Australia/New Zealand and one of the largest in Asia. Mike started his technology career at Microsoft serving in multiple product management roles.
Cliff Kushler – CTO and Founder
Dr. Kushler co-founded Swype in 2002. Before founding Swype, Dr. Kushler was the VP of R&D at Tegic Communications/AOL Wireless. Tegic, which was also co-founded by Dr. Kushler, developed a very successful text input method for cell phones called “T9” and was acquired by America On-line in 1999. T9 is now licensed on hundreds of millions of cell phones each year. Dr. Kushler holds 17 US patents, numerous foreign patents, as well as a large number of pending applications. He has an MS in Computer Science from Michigan State University, and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. He also speaks Japanese fluently.
Mark Illing – Director, Software Development
Mr. Illing joined Swype in 2003 to head up Swype’s software development efforts. Before joining Swype, Mr. Illing was a senior member of the software development team at Tegic Communications where he played a key role in the development of the T9 software. Prior to text input system development, Mark was intimately involved in SIMNET, the first global realtime interactive networked cooperative virtual simulation for tactical team training, responsible for managing visual system environment processing.
Randy Marsden – Founder
Mr. Marsden originated the concept of the Swype keyboard at the start of 2001 and co-founded Swype with Dr. Kushler in 2002. Mr. Marsden is also the founder and President/CEO of Madentec Limited, a successful assistive technology company that specializes in adapted computer input. Onscreen keyboard software developed by Madentec was licensed by Microsoft in 1998 and since that time has been included in every copy of Windows sold. Mr. Marsden has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alberta and also speaks Japanese fluently.
Loreen Milbrath – CFO
Ms. Milbrath directs the financial management and administrative operations of the company. She has over a dozen years experience in financial and operations management for technology companies focused on wireless and device software. Prior to joining Swype, Ms. Milbrath was a co-founder of Melodeo, Inc. and part of the original management team of Tegic Communications where she served as VP Finance and Administration from early stage start-up through the acquisition by AOL in 1999. Loreen started her career in audit and transaction support with Price Waterhouse.
Aaron Sheedy – COO
Mr. Sheedy has over 13 years of experience in interactive media strategy and business development. He is responsible for bringing Swype’s innovative input solutions to market. He has held numerous VP level roles in both new technology startups and established companies, including Microsoft, Verisign, Digeo, etc. Aaron also co-founded and sold ZIVO which was the largest Interactive Agency in Australia/New Zealand and one of the largest in Asia.