Skype can now translate conversations in over 40 languages

Douglas Adams' Babel fish may be a work of science fiction, but Microsoft is close to having its own universal translator in software. The firm has introduced a preview of Skype Translator, a new "experience" that translates instant messages and voice communication in "near real-time."

Although the virtual interpreter is currently limited to English and Spanish for spoken conversations, it can translate instant messages in over 40 languages. ...