Google Translate for smartphones and tablet PCs will be equipped with new functions in the next few days. Accordingly, the app for Android and iOS will also enable texts to be translated via the camera in the future. The company has now officially announced this.

Google has launched an update to integrate a translation function via smartphone camera into its own Google Translate app. In the future, you will be able to read and translate texts, such as street signs or menus, in real time. The whole thing should even work without an active internet connection.

At launch, the feature will support translating English into the following languages ​​in both directions: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Support for additional languages ​​is still being worked on.

New voice input for simultaneous translation

In addition, Google Translate will receive a new type of language input that will allow simultaneous recording of source and target languages. Until now it was necessary to enter each sentence individually. In the future, the conversation mode should make it possible for two people who do not understand each other to have a fluid conversation. To do this, simply tap on the microphone while the app is open to switch to the corresponding language translation mode. After tapping the microphone again, the app should automatically recognize the languages ​​currently being spoken and then translate them at the same time.

According to Google, the update for iOS and Android will be released in the next few days. However, it may take some time until it arrives on all devices.