14 DAY TRIAL // Google has had a change of heart about shutting down the Translate API. The company announced that it was shutting down several APIs, most of them either unused or unnecessary. The sole exception was the Translate API and the many developers using it were not pleased.
Now Google has announced that it will be creating a paid version of the API to enable those interested in the technology to access it while also ensuring that Google makes money, or rather, that it doesn't threaten its own tools by giving away its technology to companies that may be abusing the terms of service.
"In the days since we announced the deprecation of the Translate API, we’ve seen the passion and interest expressed by so many of you, through comments here (believe me, we read every one of them) and elsewhere," Google wrote in an update to the original post announcing the shut down.
Google announced that it will be shutting down more than a dozen APIs and will deprecating several more, yet the vast majority of people were upset about only one.
That's hardly surprising, it was clearly the Translate API that was the most popular with the bunch, in fact it's part of what led to it being shut down in the first place.
Google believed that the API was being abused and it decided it will no longer support the ones violating the terms of service, even if it meant that a lot of legitimate sites and services would get hurt in the process.
However, one of the main requests from those affected was to have a paid version that would ensure that the API will continue to be available while also making sure it doesn't get abused. Seeing the amount of interest, Google decided not to shut down the API and is working on a paid version.
"I’m happy to share that we’re working hard to address your concerns, and will be releasing an updated plan to offer a paid version of the Translate API. Please stay tuned; we’ll post a full update as soon as possible," Google said.