If there’s one thing you can count on for Android, it’s an ever-increasing selection of 3rd-party keyboard alternatives. Today we’ve got word that developers at Cootek have upgraded their TouchPal keyboard out of Beta, available now for free on the Android Market. Know before we go any further that this is instantly going to be compared to SWYPE as it’s got what that app made famous on the Android platform: moving your finger across the keypad, collecting letters for words as you go. With this comes predictive text and an amazingly intelligent engine connecting all elements for the potential to “type” text as fast as possible on mobile platforms. In addition to that, this app, unlike some similar keypads on the market right this moment, is free during this first release leading up to a paid version on October 31, 2011.

This again is the first time you’re able to get access to this app without having contacted the developers directly to test, this version is solid and ready to go right this moment, and a giant list of improvements has been released to go along with this pre-cost yet full-release app. See if you can spot the differences between this and previously released keyboards:

• Unique patented technologies of TouchPal Keyboard
• TouchPal Curve – the first predictive sliding in the world!
• Intelligent next-word prediction. It may save up to 80% keystrokes.
• Magic mistyping correction on Full QWERTY layout. Blind typing is no longer a dream!
• Mixed language input allows auto language detection. No need to switch languages.
• Innovation of T+ dual-letter layout. Bigger keys than QWERTY!
• Multi-lingual support (download language packs after installation)
• Voice input (system requirement: Android 2.2 or above)
• Outstanding dictionary with online update
• Import contact list to your user dictionary
• Backup/restore user dictionary in SD card
• Slide down on keys to quickly input number and symbols
• Fantastic sliding experience

After having tested it very briefly just today I can tell you that this is certainly a professionally produced app that’s been created to compete directly with both the current stock keyboards on all versions of Android as well as 3rd party apps on the market today. As this app is completely free right this second, you simply MUST check it out if you’re looking for a new keyboard solution.

Check the app out right now on the [Android Market]