If you ever felt that your iPhone (be it 3G or not) could be of more help to you when you're in a foreign country, or if you simply need to translate something, Google has now optimized the Google Translate service to be used with Apple's famous handset.

Of course, accessing the Google Translate website via the iPhone was always possible, but according to a recent post from the Official Google Mobile Blog, it "didn't work that well" on the touchscreen device. Thus, two of Google's developers have joined forces and came up with Google Translate for iPhone.

Built on the AJAX Language API, the Google Translate Web page for iPhone supports all the languages that are available via the regular online translation page. Even more, it automatically stores your translations on the iPhone, allowing you to access them every time you want, even without being connected to the Internet.

iPhone owners can access the enhanced Google Translate at this address - and it's all free of charge, just like in the case of the desktop version of the website. Still, you should note that, since it relies on a Web connection when translating texts, the new iPhone optimized service might cost a few bucks for those who do not have an unlimited data plan with their mobile carrier. According to the Google Blog, in 1MB of data, you will get about 200 - 400 translations, which means that even if you translate a lot of text, it's unlikely that you have to pay too much.

Sure, some might say that Google Translate is not at all the perfect translation machine, but it can definitely provide a lot of help when trying, for example, to decipher a Web page written in a language that you are not familiar with.

This being said, iPhone owners have from now on a friendlier translation tool to make use of. All they need to do is to access it in time of need. Oh, and it works with the iPod Touch, too.