T-Mobile Translates Phone Calls in Real Time, No App Needed
â–¼ Summary
– T-Mobile is launching a beta test this spring for “Live Translation,” an AI feature that translates live phone calls into over 50 languages.
– The service operates at the network level, so users don’t need special apps or devices, but it must be initiated by a T-Mobile network user.
– It requires a Voice over LTE (VoLTE) connection, making it work on 4G LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi calling, not just the latest 5G Advanced network.
– During the beta, eligible customers can activate it for free by dialing 87, with a voice command (“Hey T-Mobile”) option coming later in spring.
– The service translates calls in real time but does not save any call recordings or transcripts, according to the company.
T-Mobile is launching a groundbreaking beta test this spring that allows customers to translate phone calls in real time across more than 50 languages, directly through the carrier’s network. This innovative service, called Live Translation, eliminates the need for any third-party apps or specific devices, making cross-language communication more accessible than ever before. Registration for the beta is now open to eligible T-Mobile subscribers.
The company’s leadership highlights the service as a major step beyond simple connectivity. “Some of the biggest barriers wireless customers face are the simplest ones , like being able to understand each other,” stated T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan. He described the feature as a way to turn conversations into community by integrating real-time AI translation directly into the network infrastructure.
A key advantage of this network-level approach is its broad compatibility. The service only requires that a T-Mobile user initiates the translation during a call. It is designed to work on the carrier’s 5G Advanced network, but T-Mobile president John Saw clarified that it is not limited to the latest technology. “The key requirement is a Voice over LTE (VoLTE) connection,” Saw explained. This foundation allows Live Translation to function reliably over 4G LTE, 5G, and even Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi), ensuring it works for customers in a wide variety of locations and network conditions.
During the beta period, participants can activate the feature at no extra cost by simply dialing 87 at any point during a call. The company has not yet announced whether there will be a fee for the service when it launches publicly later this year. T-Mobile also plans to introduce a voice activation option this spring, allowing users to start a translation by saying “Hey T-Mobile.”
Privacy is a central component of the service’s design. The translation occurs in real time during an active call, and T-Mobile emphasizes that it does not save any call recordings or transcripts. “The service is designed to translate conversations in real time and then move on, without storing the content of those calls,” Saw confirmed. This approach aims to provide a useful tool while addressing potential customer concerns about data retention and privacy.
(Source: The Verge)