Docomo announces a cloud based Translator Phone service

DOCOMO Translator Service
DOCOMO's cloud based Translator Phone service

DOCOMO is about to launch an on-demand translator-phone service, showing their increasing ability to deliver high value services though cloud solutions. Through this unique mobile cloud service, a customer will simply speak into their phone, and in the other end the receiver will hear the message interpreted promptly into the language of their choice.

Trials have shown that the average processing time takes just about two seconds, fast enough for a reasonably natural conversation under most circumstances. This will in theory make it possible for two people to have a conversation without really understanding each other’s language. DOCOMO and some 400 monitors are currently testing the service in Japan now through March 2012, and tourist facilities, retail companies and hospitals are also participating. The trial system, which interprets Japanese and English, has about 90 percent accuracy in understanding what users say in Japanese. Accuracy for English is currently at about 80 percent.

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