Bengaluru: In a significant step towards making Indian language typing more accessible and private on Apple devices, Bengaluru-based independent developer Krishna Permi has launched Akshar, an AI-powered keyboard app for iPhone and iPad that supports Kannada and 20 other Indian languages entirely offline.
The app enables users to type Indian languages phonetically using English letters. For example, typing “namma Karnataka” instantly converts into “ನಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ” in Kannada. Unlike many transliteration tools that rely on cloud-based processing, Akshar runs fully on-device using AI4Bharat’s IndicXlit transliteration model developed at IIT Madras.
Kannada inspiration behind the app
Krishna Permi said the app was born out of a personal need to help his child practise Kannada lessons more comfortably on an iPhone.
“I needed to type Kannada on my iPhone for him to read and work through, and wanted a dedicated space to write Kannada comfortably,” he explained.
What began as a simple tool for personal use evolved into a full-fledged keyboard app after months of development during nights and weekends.
The app’s name, Akshar (ಅಕ್ಷರ), derives from Sanskrit and symbolises both “letter” and “imperishable,” reflecting the creator’s deep connection to language and literature.
Privacy-focused Indic typing
A major highlight of Akshar is its privacy-first design. According to the developer, earlier versions depended on Google’s transliteration APIs, which meant user input was processed externally. However, version 3.0 was rebuilt completely on-device using Indian-origin AI research.
This ensures typed content, including passwords, OTPs, and personal messages, never leaves the device. The app also functions without internet connectivity, accounts, advertisements, or telemetry.
Support for 21 languages
Akshar supports Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Konkani, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bangla, Urdu, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sanskrit, Sinhala, and several other Indian languages. Eight of these languages, including Konkani and Assamese, are reportedly unavailable on most major Indic keyboard platforms.
The app also offers bidirectional transliteration, converting English to Indic scripts and Indic scripts back into English pronunciation. This feature is aimed at bridging communication across generations and regions.
Accessibility and advanced features
Apart from functioning as a system-wide keyboard, Akshar includes a built-in Notes editor with live transliteration and a Convert feature for paragraphs and sentences. The app integrates with Siri, Shortcuts, widgets, Control Centre, and the iOS share sheet.
It has also been designed with accessibility in mind, offering VoiceOver support, Dynamic Type compatibility, hardware keyboard shortcuts, and reduced motion support.
The App Store listing itself has been localised into 11 Indian languages, including Kannada, along with several international languages.
Growing relevance for regional language users
As smartphone users increasingly communicate in regional languages, Akshar aims to simplify native language typing without requiring users to learn complex keyboard layouts such as InScript.
The app’s emphasis on Kannada and other regional languages is expected to resonate strongly with users across Karnataka and coastal regions where languages like Konkani remain culturally significant.
Website: https://www.akshar.site
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759032352