Google launched Gboard, a keyboard app that lets users search for information and send it to their contacts without leaving the app, and Spaces, a group sharing tool.

Spaces
“Sharing things typically involves hopping between apps to copy and paste links. Group conversations often don’t stay on topic, and things get lost in endless threads that you can’t easily get back to when you need them,” Google said.

With Spaces, users can find and share articles, videos and images without leaving the app, since Google Search, YouTube and Chrome come built-in.

And if users want to find something that was shared earlier — articles, videos, comments or images — they can easily search for it.

Spaces is rolling out on Android, iOS, desktop, and mobile web for all Gmail accounts.

Gboard
Gboard lets users search for anything they would normally search for on Google, including flight times, news articles, GIFs and emojis, and send it via message or email straight from the app.

“Results appear as cards with the key information front and centre. With one tap, you can send it to your friend and keep the conversation going” the search giant explained.

Gboard also has a feature called “Glide Typing”, which lets users type words by sliding their finger from key to key instead of tapping.

Gboard works in messaging and email apps as well as YouTube. It is available in English, with more languages to come.

There has been much interest in keyboard apps this year, In February, Microsoft bought SwiftKey, the company behind a keyboard app underpinned by predictive technology, while in March another keyboard app maker, Kika Tech, raised $30.6 million in a Series B funding.

And last month, Riffsy partnered with Vodafone Group and Millicom to accelerate its global growth.