Skype, perhaps best known as a Shia LaBeoufmeditation device, is making some truly international waves with the completed expansion of their much-hyped translation service. Aptly dubbed Skype Translator, the impressive tool was first teased at the end of 2014 with a soft launch and a pretty boastful (rightfully so) demo:
Skype Translator, now available for anyone with Skype for Windows, allows users to speak in seven different languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese Mandarin, Portuguese, and Italian. Users opting for the text-to-text translation services can enjoy a whopping 50 "instant message languages," according to a press release.
"With the continued adoption of Skype Translator, we are working on rolling out new languages and platforms," a Skype spokesperson confirmed. Promising that this "rolling out" process would involve "bringing the translation feature to more Skype apps and implementing an even wider selection of languages," Skype added that the entire team is "dedicated to continue the growth of this new chapter in communication which has enabled people to connect globally, for free."
For proper flexing, Skype also unveiled a nice batch of statistics supporting Translator's inevitable popularity. According to their report, French to English is currently the most popular paired language. Since Translator's initial launch, the total number of calls has increased an estimated 400 percent.
Nice flex, Skype.
For additional Skype magic, go ahead and revisit that LaBeouf meditation while thanking the future for helping you forget about all those botched hoverboard promises:
