Mobile phone translator service unveiled

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Author: JT Smith

NewScientist.com: “If you are puzzled when the German waiter asks you: “Was
möchten Sie?” all you have to do is to reach for your mobile
phone. Not only will the phone tell you that the waiter is asking
you what you want, it will even translate your order into German.

The system, called Verbmobil, can translate spoken English,
German, Japanese and Chinese almost instantaneously. It
operates over a standard mobile phone network – you just dial a
number. Verbmobil, the product of a $90-million research
programme, was demonstrated in Seattle last week.”