---
title: "Skype now has real-time language translation built in"
description: "Skype will now let you hold a conversation in any of the following languages without needing to know a word: English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, and Spanish. "
date: "2015-10-01"
modified: "2015-10-02"
authors:
  - name: "Alex Klokus"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/alex-klokus"
url: "https://futurism.com/skype-now-has-real-time-language-translation-built-in"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
tags:
  - "translation"
---

# Skype now has real-time language translation built in

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/skypetranslatorfinal1_1020.0.0.jpg>)

##### The Breakthrough

We first heard about Skype’s real-time language translation feature months ago during an impressive demo, and now it’s beginning to ship for Windows users. While the real-time feature is currently only supported for 6 languages, the app will support translation of 50 additional languages via text chat. There is no currently no timeline for the feature to ship to Mac or mobile users.

[![microsoft](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/microsoft.png>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/microsoft.png>)

##### The Implications

Real-time language translation has been discussed for years, but no service has ever lived up to expectations. Skype has been pumping resources into making this idea a reality, and so far the demonstrations have been very impressive. If enough financial resources are pumped into real-time language translation, it’s not very difficult to imagine a future where language barriers are seemingly non-existent. By leveraging the acccesibility of a smartwatch, real-time language translation can make the transition from digital to in-person communications.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexklokus>)