Swype, Sprint Giving Nexus S 4G Owners Early Access to New Keyboard Software

Software keyboard maker Swype said it has reached a deal with Sprint to give owners of the Nexus S 4G Android phone the first crack at a new version of the company’s flagship keyboard software.

The new version adds several new features, including personal dictionaries, automatic capitalization of proper nouns, and the ability to use gestures to select text; it can also launch apps, such as Twitter, Facebook and Google Maps. Sprint customers will be able to swipe the new software from the software company’s Web site; others will be able to download a beta version soon.

Swype updated its app earlier this year with improved text prediction and has also been raising money, completing a $6 million round of financing last month.