Ortsbo.com, which accurately bills itself as an instant chat translator, lets you easily communicate with friends, colleagues, and guides or tour companies around the world who speak different languages. Ortsbo (which means "local" in Swedish) supports approximately 50 languages, and even allows multi-language chats in multiple environments.
The Web site went online last summer and by late January, four million unique monthly users had discovered Ortsbo.com for instant chats. They've been using Orstbo via Facebook, MSN, Google Talk and other services. You can even put in a passage of text in another language and have it translated. (Handy for reading the fine print on a contract you're about to sign with a guide service in a foreign country.)
Instant Chat With Ortsbo for Free
This instant chat translator is free and easy to use. Simply go to the web site, download the app and follow the directions.
Then, you can sign into one of the 13 networks and start writing. You send the message in English and your friend or contact in the other country will see the message in his or her language. They respond in their language and you will see it on your computer in English.
Instant Chat Translator Using Email
If you're trying to plan an adventure travel trip on your own, and need to contact guides or tour operators in foreign countries and they don't speak English, try the beta version of Ortsbo's email application. Currently, it's only available for Outlook and costs $29.95. The commercial release is expected within the next month or two.
Connect to Instant Chat Translator
To start talking to friends, tour operators and guides in other countries visit
Ortsbo.com.
