14 DAY TRIAL // With the events unfolding last week in Iran following the presidential elections, social media has proven again to be a medium for worldwide communication and an information source. And the need for tools to allow people speaking different languages to communicate was also more apparent and, in fact, satisfied, as Google launched support for the Persian (Farsi) Language ahead of schedule, while Facebook also moved up the launch of a localized version of its homepage. A new service called BabelWith.Me takes worldwide communication even further with a web-based chat client with automatic translation between 45 languages.
The product is still in alpha, but there are already plenty of features and details that make it a very helpful tool. First, using it is very easy and requires no account, as all you need to do to create a new chat room is to click on the big “Start a Conversation” button on the site's homepage.
You can then easily invite friends or colleagues, as the site offers Facebook, Twitter and email sharing options to spread the word. The interface is simple and has some nice features like showing the original message below the translated ones.
The biggest feature of the service, of course, is the automatic translation system powered by Google Translate. The translations aren't perfect, as with all computer-powered ones, but this should be an even smaller problem than it usually is, as you always have the option of asking for some more clarification from the other participants in the chat.
An interesting note is that, with Google Translate's new support for the Persian language, the chat app also has the language among the 45 supported, so it could prove an interesting tool to keep connected with those in Iran who may not speak English or other internationally used languages.