World's first mobile service for real-time translation between Japanese and other languages

22nd October 2012

Japan's biggest mobile network - NTT Docomo - has announced the world's first mobile service for real-time translations between people speaking Japanese and other languages.

 

 

Called Hanashite Hon'yaku (automatic voice translation service), the app will be launched on 1st November.

DOCOMO also announced the launch of Utsushite Hon'yaku (AR translator with word recognition camera). This translates foreign signage and menus, simply by placing a smartphone camera in front of text.

Hanashite Hon'yaku provides translations between Japanese and the receiver's language, currently English, Chinese or Korean. Translations are provided both as screen text and voice readouts. The DOCOMO subscriber simply dials the other party using an Android app for DOCOMO smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 or higher. Calls can be placed to any mobile or landline phone, either in Japan or overseas.

Hanashite Hon'yaku can also be used for face-to-face conversations in which the two speakers share one smartphone. French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai will be added for this application in late November, raising the number of non-Japanese languages to ten.

Fast and accurate translations are possible with any smartphone, regardless of device specifications, because it uses DOCOMO's cloud for processing. The app will be available free of charge. Users pay call and data charges for phone-to-phone conversations and translation data for screen text and voice readouts. Only data charges apply for face-to-face conversations, since no call is required. Subscription to DOCOMO's "sp-mode" or "moperaU" connection service is required.

 

 

The other app – Utsushite Hon'yaku – translates short written text between Japanese and either English, Chinese or Korean. Translation is virtually instantaneous after the device's camera captures the text. This commercial version of Menu Translator, which DOCOMO is trialing in Japan until 31st October, will translate words and phrases not only in menus, but also street signs, signboards and more. Translation from Japanese is also possible, so DOCOMO expects the app to be useful for foreign people visiting Japan.

The Utsushite Hon'yaku app will be available free for download (data charges may apply). Usage will not incur any transmission fee since the translation process does not require a network connection. It can be used on any smartphone or tablet equipped with an outer camera and running Android 2.3 or higher.

 

 

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