VoxOx Universal Translator makes multilingual communication a breeze

Despite being launched at Mobile World Congress, VoxOx has yet to make a mobile version of its Universal Translator. That said, the desktop version is still quite useful for those with Windows or OS X-based rigs who attempt to communicate with friends -- particularly with friends who speak a different native language. The new software build enables real-time language translation for SMS chat, social media and email, and so long as the VoxOx client is pulled up, you can send and receive any of those messages in your own tongue while receiving translated messages in return. Granted, we get the idea that some phrases will be quite literally lost in translation, but this sure beats accessing Google's Language Tools for each questionable phrase. Hit the download link below to grab a copy, and head on past the break for a video demonstration of what's on offer.

See more video at our hub!

[admlshake Posted Feb 17th 2010 6:49AM]

Is that the ICQ icon I see there? Didn't realize anyone even used that anymore.

[pika2000 Posted Feb 17th 2010 7:02AM]

This is pretty cool, but it would be better if it's built-in to the OS instead of a separate app running. Another step closer to Star Trek Universal Translator.

[ushpiy Posted Feb 17th 2010 7:15AM]

@pika2000
I am ok if a person has to download it separately, but still this is pretty awesome.

[Caprice0083 Posted Feb 17th 2010 7:55AM]

Nice, so I can safely flirt with a sexy japanese girl and she will actually understand what I'm saying!? Nah lol, but good stuff.

[xiggyedgex Posted Feb 17th 2010 7:59AM]

VoxOX proudly developed by costarican engineers :D the program is pretty awesome as well.

[Fanboi Posted Feb 17th 2010 8:08AM]

I'll wait for when they can attach some chip to my brain so I wont even need to type anything. We are Borg.

[BuzzMega Posted Feb 17th 2010 9:46AM]

Granted, we get the idea that some phrases will be quite literally lost in translation, but this sure beats accessing Google's Language Tools for each questionable phrase.

Accordée, nous acquérons l'idée que certaines phrases seront littéralement perdu dans la traduction, mais cela vous bat accéder aux outils linguistiques de Google pour chaque phrase discutable.

Granted, we get the idea that some sentences are literally lost in translation, but it beats you to access Google language tools for each sentence moot.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Feb 17th 2010 9:49AM]

Woah this works with AIM, etc?
So as long as the other person is using this client it will translate on the fly? Killer...Mobile version PLEASE!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 17th 2010 10:10AM]

How's he gonna talk to the guy while having lunch and neither of them speaking the other's language? IM?

[grydlok Posted Feb 17th 2010 10:26AM]

@(Unverified)
I wondered the same thing. Going to be a long lunch

[Scr1be Posted Feb 17th 2010 2:12PM]

@(Unverified)

Lulz I too thought the same thing... maybe they will just take VoxOx with them

[hurts feelings Posted Feb 17th 2010 10:42AM]

I don't know if it's the Russian language or this application, but:

Do not try any long sentences using the Russian language nor try any contractions because it won't work.

translated back as:

"Do not attempt any long-term use of Russian language, or try any reductions because it will not work."

[Hieronymous Posted Feb 17th 2010 11:56AM]

I downloaded and tried the software. Overall impressions: really smooth. It hooks into your various chat accounts (I created a test Google account) and Facebook and the rest, and lets you see when any of your contacts are on any of the different networks. You can then chat from one place to any of these networks. So if a friend goes into Facebook, I see her and can talk to her immediately. Same for Skype, Jabber, Google talk.

The Universal Translation works well enough to shock my friends. They don't see it. So one of my friends is anglo-Swedish and I started chatting to her in Swedish. It translates her replies back to me and seems to auto-detect whether she replies in English or Swedish.

Very, very smooth, fast, though the translations are always a little... amusing. Still much better than any alternative I can think of.

Next, it comes with a VoIP client so I can call fixed lines very cheaply. I've been doing a lot of SIP and Skype lately as I travel around. I'm not sure whether VoxOx is SIP or not, if it is then I can call free to my family at home.

And it also lets me send/receive text messages with translation. This is only useful in the USA I guess, because here in Europe texts are usually too costly.

I would classify this as 'revolutionary' software. VoxOx's business model is, I think, to sell phone minutes.

Only one thing to improve: presence indicators on users is kind of small and not obvious. It should be 20x more visible...

[SpideyBR Posted Feb 17th 2010 12:06PM]

WOW. The same technology I've seen in the last decade in Ultima Online becomes a blog post in Engadget, who pretty much should be a NEWS blog. All right, you got me!

[Emjay Posted Feb 17th 2010 1:04PM]

That's awesome; I can now afford to do some outsourcing.

I love the exchange rates in China and India.

[geethreeforce Posted Feb 17th 2010 2:31PM]

Een erg handige applicatie "al zeg ik het zelf". Jammer dat Engadget hier nog geen gebruik van maakt. Trouwens: Koffie iemand?

[collide007 Posted Feb 19th 2010 1:48PM]

Great functionality, but why does the interface have to be so ugly?