Swype for Ice Cream Sandwich launching within 'days'

By JR Raphael (@jr_raphael)

Swype has long been an Android user favorite. The third-party keyboard app popularized swipe-to-type text input, allowing you to type by tracing your finger from key to key without lifting away.

There's just one problem: Swype doesn't yet work on devices running Android 4.0, a.k.a. Ice Cream Sandwich. Some clever developers came up with a hack to make the app run on the Galaxy Nexus, but their mod doesn't do the trick for ICS tablets -- and, of course, it's not the officially supported real deal.

Fear not, though, Swype fans: The makers of Swype say they're finally on the brink of releasing an official Ice Cream Sandwich-ready edition. The company has posted a message on its Twitter account promising the next update is now just "days away." A follow-up tweet confirms that the update will include ICS support along with a handful of other new "goodies." Both messages were sent last Wednesday.

The timing matches up with what we've heard before: Back at the beginning of January, Swype tweeted that it was targeting the end of that month for the release of its ICS-level update. Being that we're now in the first full week of February, the team isn't too far behind its original estimation.

Swype, as you may know, isn't available in the Android Market; rather, you have to sign up for the company's free beta program and then download the app directly from the beta website. The reason, according to the Swype gang, is that the company focuses primarily on the versions of its product that come preinstalled on certain phones (that's how they make money, after all). The beta model allows them to provide the software to the general public without making major commitments or jeopardizing their business model.

So keep your eye on that beta site: The wait for an Ice Cream Sandwich-flavored Swype is almost over.

JR Raphael writes about smartphones and other tasty technology. You can find him on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Article copyright 2012 JR Raphael. All rights reserved.