Skype Logo
Buy Skype Credit · Help ·
  • Download
  • Use Skype
  • Business
  • Shop
  • Account
Jane Hoskyn

Sprechen Sie Skype?

By My status Jane Hoskyn on July 24, 2006 in Skype features.

skype trans.jpg

For those of us whose language schooling extended no further than a couple of Je m'appelles under the supervision of a terrified 22-year-old supply teacher, Skype can often be a frustrating missed opportunity. All those millions of Skypers, chatting in languages rich, strange and no more familiar to me than Klingon. Good old British edukashun.

So I was intrigued to read on the Skype forum about the catchily-named Universal Language Real-Time Message Translator, known fondly to its creator as "ULRTMT". Good job he didn't go for some obscure, geeky name like Skype Translator, isn't it?

This simple web-based tool translates Skype instant messages in real time, as you might have guessed from the name. Given the vast melting pot of lingo being Skyped across the globe as we speak, this could be the most useful invention since, say, voice-over IP.

The ULRTMT is the work of US-based Skyper extraordinaire ZOverLord, who's been hosting a companion how-to thread on the forum. When the thread began a couple of months ago, the ULRTMT (pronounced "ullertumpt", perhaps?) could only translate your messaging history. Now it's tackling real-time chat, even allowing several Skypers all using different languages to take part in one conversation.

It's very simple to use. Make sure Skype is running on your computer, go to the ULRTMT web page, and type a message in the left-hand Send window. Then select the language to translate it to, and your recipient will instantly receive the message in their language. Several languages are supported, including the usual European suspects plus Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Korean.

ZOverlord is quick to point out that this, like any other web-based translation tool, is "far from perfect". You can generate some hilarious results using Babelfish, for example. Type in a simple phrase and, before you can ask "Do you have a lessance for your minkey?", you're off on a trail of linguistic Chinese whispers.

Unintentional comedy aside, ZOverLord looks like he's onto a winner.

Bookmark and Share

View blog reactions

Comments

Hi Jane,

Good that you talk about Skype third part application like this one. Don is doing well and help us a lot in supporting the ecosystem and its technical requests.

Thanks again for paying attention to that great developers community.

FYI : you should have used the “ULRTMT” in your French exemple :-p ("je m'appelle Antoine" but "tu t'appelles Jane" )

To the happy few,

Antoine

bertouta | Tuesday, Jul 25

Comment on this post

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

Please read our comment guidelines before posting your comment.

Skype Blogs
  • Share Skype Blog
  • Heartbeat
  • Developer Zone
  • Business
  • Skype Gear
  • Security
  • Garage
  • Mac
  • Linux
  • Eesti keeles
  • 日本語
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Italiano
  • Brasil
  • United Kingdom
  • Polski
  • United States
  • 한국어

Recent posts

  • Help us develop Skype for your business
  • Silver surfers on Skype
  • Skype? Old school!
  • Are your Facebook friends on Skype? Find out with 3's new app
  • Our very own Rubik's Cube genius
  • 3 opens up to free Skype-to-Skype calls for all
  • Skype steps into the world of TV - showing off our first European TV ads
  • Skype President Josh Silverman meets Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
  • Skype for Business research group: London
  • Albion: how we made the Skype Christmas promo banners

Archives

  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006

Subscribe to this blog
What? Tell me more…

using RSS Subscribe
via Bloglines Subscribe in Bloglines
using Newsgator Subscribe in NewsGator Online
with MyYahoo
with Google Add to Google
with My AOL Add to My AOL
with netvibes Add to Netvibes
About us · Partners · Jobs · Prices · Security
Privacy policy · Legal · © 2009 Skype Limited