Google Translate App Becomes Real-Time Interpreter

— -- Google announced groundbreaking updates today to its translation app that will allow users to carry on a conversation in two different languages.

The app allows users to select the two languages they're working with and then once the app is in conversation mode, it will take care of the rest, allowing the users to have a more spontaneous and fluid conversation.

Google said the instant translation update can handle translations from English to and from French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, virtually dissolving the language barrier for globe trotters and people with families that may converse in several languages.

Even in areas without a data connection or Internet service, the app is still operational in camera mode. Snap a photo of the text and Google will provide a translation in three-dozen languages.

Skype last month unveiled a preview of a similar service in English and Spanish that allows users to converse in real-time.

Skype, owned by Microsoft, said its "long-term goal for speech translation is to translate as many languages as possible on as many platforms."