Skype Translator Preview is on its way to desktops by the end of this summer

Skype Translator Preview is a technology that allows you to have your conversations translated in real time over Skype. Last month the sign up requirement to try the preview was removed and now the Skype Translator Preview is making its way to the Windows desktop version of Skype.

The Skype blog states their target as the end of summer 2015 to start rolling out the preview to the desktop version of Skype.

Skype Translator Preview uses machine learning so the more people use it, the better it gets at translation. When they removed the sign up requirement, usage went up 300%. Bringing it to the desktop is likely to bring another increase. The blog post requests that users use a headset to help Skype Translator improve by being able to hear spoken words more clearly.

The Skype blog has a video showing off how to set up Skype Translator.

Currently Skype Translator Preview translates voice calls in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Italian. It also translates typed conversations in 50 languages.

We tried out Skype Translator Preview recently and tested it in English, Spanish, and Italian. Even though it’s rough at times, it does a surprisingly good job at translating conversations in real time. If you want to try it out yourself you can download the version for the Windows Store below.