Skype Translator roll out complete for all Windows desktop users

The world becomes much smaller with Skype's ability to automatically translate seven spoken languages and over 50 written ones for users on Windows.

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

January 13, 2016

1 Min Read
Skype Translator
Microsoft

The world has become a little smaller with the completion of Skype's automatic translation feature as it rolls out to all users of the Windows desktop version of the program.

This roll out has taken just over three months to wrap up and brings the ability to automatically translate seven spoken languages that include Chinese Mandarin, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

In addition, automatic text too text translation in Skype can be done for over 50 languages using the software's IM features. See this page for a full list of supported languages.

This has been a project that has been in the public eye since December of 2014 with the release of the first public preview of the translation service and I got to try it out last April and it was very impressive at that point.

Over the ensuing months the preview was expanded and now we have the completed roll out.

To activate the translator feature for a contact on Skype just open up a conversation window with them and look for the globe on the right side of the window just below the call buttons.

Click that globe and it will open up a dialog box where you can turn on automatic translations for this contact.

Next click on the language next to each contact and select the default for each participant.

Once this setup process is done for a contact it does not need to be repeated.

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

About the Author(s)

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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