Promising to bridge the language barrier even further, Skype Translator, a service that allows real-time translation of video calls, has unveiled its support for Russian language. Previously only available in English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Arabic, the introduction of Russian marks a major milestone for Skype. The announcement was made by Microsoft’s Skype team in a recent blog post praising the progress of the Skype Translator.
As the eighth most widely spoken language globally, Russian presents unique communication opportunities for Skype users worldwide. Recognizing this, the Microsoft Skype team shared their excitement, stating, “Russian-speaking customers around the world have long been enthusiastic about Skype Translator. For months, we’ve received numerous requests to include Russian in Skype Translator’s audio language portfolio. We are delighted to finally cross this milestone, opening up one of the most complex dialectically rich languages on earth to anyone with a Skype account.”
At the heart of the Skype Translator is machine learning or deep learning, forms of artificial intelligence. This technology enables the service to analyze and translate words it receives in different languages, further improving over time with prolonged use. It masterfully picks up letters from spoken words and restructures them into the selected language which can be chosen from the ‘globe’ icon on the Skype interface. The translated text is then delivered to the other user, making the flow of conversations smoother and more comprehensible.
To start using this ground-breaking service, users can simply click on the globe icon in their chat window and select their preferred language.
However, it is worth noting that the Skype Translator service is still under development and is currently exclusive to the Windows platform. Efforts are underway to expand its reach, with future plans to incorporate more languages and make the service available on more platforms.
Amid technological advancements, it’s exciting to observe how tools like Skype Translator are helping to foster greater understanding and connection between diverse communities worldwide.
This article was updated in 2025 to reflect modern realities.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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