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Google’s Gboard has once again expanded the list of languages it officially supports. Google’s keyboard offering has increased its functionality list at a pretty consistent rate in recent times, with the app now supporting GIFs, integrated Google Search, themes, and much more, and Gboard doesn’t fall behind when it comes to supported languages either, with today’s update bringing the total to over 300 supported language varieties.
Included in Google’s latest update to the Android app is support for both traditional and simplified Chinese, as well as Korean – the two of which are the “top two languages” that were requested, although the official support was to be expected considering the languages have been available in the beta version of the app for the past few months. In addition to this Gboard is also introducing support for other, lesser-known languages such as Manx and Maori. These will go hand in hand with the other new introductions: Balochi, Central Bikol, Bislama, Chittagonian, Cree, Dhundari, Harauti, Kangri, Kongo, Lambadi (Devanagari & Telugu), Malvi, Ndonga, Southern Ndebele, Nimadi, Rusyn, Samogitian, Sardinian, Tswana, and Tongan. In total, the latest Gboard release brings twenty-two new languages to the app, which, according to Google, covers up to 74-percent of the world’s population. The internet giant’s focus on expanding Gboard’s language support is hardly surprising, though, especially when considering the increasing popularity of stock Android devices across the globe that often include Google’s offering as the default keyboard. Furthermore, the Silicon Valley-based company’s recent partnership with Nokia on Android One smartphones will also bring the keyboard to millions of new users once the releases of the new devices commence, forcing Google to cater to a much wider audience.
Since its release back in 2016, Gboard has evolved significantly, especially considering the app initially only supported the U.S variation of English on iPhone devices. Nonetheless, Google appears to have been putting a much larger focus on the Android variant in recent times, while the emphasis on both common and lesser-known languages will work hand-in-hand with the company’s latest strategy of targeting developing markets with new Android Go devices. After all, the wider variety of languages will allow Google to cater to both the smallest minorities and the overall majority of users in individual markets across the globe.