Skype now has real-time translation built in

In a way it’s nearly like a three way conversation (which in essence it is): you speak, the service translates, your partner speaks, the service translates back. Skype Translator may not translate proper names or the names of smaller towns and villages.

People are surprised that the Microsoft-owned company chose to integrate the app in the Skype app instead of releasing it separately as a stand-alone tool. There’s also no word on when it will come to Skype for Mac. Skype perfected the long distance call, and it’s made a good first step here at nailing the inter-language one, too. Later eBay Inc, had agreed to purchase Skype in the amount of $2.5 Billion Dollars (US). It’s now officially part of the Skype app for Windows. Check out the Skype translator which is available for all the Windows desktop users.

Fast forward today, with this Skype Translation is now integrated into Skype, users will now see real time translations on audio, video calls and as well as instant messaging conversations. Initiated with a push from CEO Satya Nadella, teams from MSR, Skype, and the Machine Learning teams all collaborated together to deliver this new and fairly astounding service. Skype’s goal is overcoming language barriers worldwide.

Before you jump in and expect to be able to chat with your Russian family members, there are a few limitations you should know about: There are only six voice languages now available in Skype Translator (English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish).

Those efforts are now paying off as the new features are rolling out to all Skype desktop users on Windows 7, 8 and 10.

Of course, with automated processes like these, it’s still a little hit-and-miss at the moment (just look at Cortana’s quirks) but, after nearly a year since its announcement, the Skype Translator is good enough today that you can easily carry conversations with people in other countries, even though the translations may not always be entirely accurate.