Skype, the leading provider of VoIP calls that boasts of 100 million users worldwide, has expanded its services with a new translation service.

However, it is not the machines that are going to convert the meaning and words from one language into the other. Skype has invited human translators and interpreters to contribute to intercultural communication, which VoIP naturally make possible.

“The interpreter service is being offered in conjunction with Voxeo, a company that provides the background technology hand-off to the interpreters, and Language Line Services, the company that is responsible for providing the actual interpreters,” www.newsfactor.com informs.

When conversing via a Skype application, the users can now request a live interpreter, which will cost them $2.99 per minute.

The service offers translators and interpreters of 150 languages. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On average, it takes about 45 seconds to get switched to it. One needs to have a SkypeOut account to run the service and the billing can go to this account.

The translation service can be useful for face-to-face large-group conferences and meetings. International businessmen sitting at one table and striking a deal have two options of using the Skype interpreters. First they can get connected to the service through the handset and then pass it to each other. The second scenario is that they have to acquire the newly announced Skype-compatible speakerphone.

Probably the service is not going to be the most popular solution, but it can sometimes be resorted to save a deal.

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Wow - that is kind of cool. And that is true. As Skype announced on May 16, now all calls made from PCs using Skype application to landlines or mobile phones are free of charge. If you are not a Skype user yet, all you need to do is to download and install Skype.

Still before calling anyone make sure you have the right people’s cell phone numbers.

Are the calls really free? Yes, they really are: no advance payment, no subscription fees, no nothing. The only two limitations include: the calls are free for those ringing from and to a number within the USA and Canada. Calls to the rest of the regions are still subject to standard rates.

The second limitation is that the offer is unlikely to be sustainable as it will cost the company a pretty penny. The creators promise that the offer will be available till the end of 2006 that is till December 31, 2006.

For the most popular calling destinations SkypeOut Global Rate of € 0.017 per minute is applied. € 0.017 is approximately the same as 0.021 American dollar or 0.012 pounds. These rates are for calling regular phone lines only (see rates to all destination). Phone calls to mobile numbers are usually more expensive.

Skype has taken a decision to cut down fees for landlines and mobile phones in an attempt to grow its North American market, which is a bit slack at the moment. The team is happy to be among the first companies to offer totally free conference.

Skype works on all platforms where SkypeOut is available, which at this time means Windows, Mac, Linux and Pocket PC. PC-to-PC calls continue to be globally free, which means that for the users in the USA and Canada calls made to PCs, traditional phones and mobile ones are 100% free.

Skype has outrun its VoIP rivals that include MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, and services such as Vonage that offer outbound phone calls at a fee.

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Japanese web and telecom conglomerate Softbank Corp. has teamed up with Apple Computer Inc. to create new mobile phones that will have built-in iPod digital music players, another child born in the era of technological blending.

Softbank and Apple are set to launch this third-generation phone as early as this year first in Japan. Users will be able to download music from iTunes Music Store online when connected to personal computers. The novelty is aimed at young people who enjoy listening music perpetually on the go.

Sceptics do not put much credit in the hopes that the service will become popular enough and stay here for long. Who is going to use cellphones to download music, they ask. However, music downloads have been quite a business lately and as of today you can download songs and tunes from the music service offered by your mobile operator.

However, Apple is already stirring some discontent among the labels, who complain that Apple’s policies are insensitive to the goals that music companies pursue and limit their business.

Apple plans to sell any download for 99 cents each, while labels want to diversify sales and offer less popular CDs that are on sales across the country for 9.99 American dollars. They are also eager to set a higher price for more popular releases to satisfy the market demand.

Mobiles have already made watches and notebooks redundant, now it is time for digital music players. The number of gadgets is getting smaller, while gadgets themselves become more of an all-in-one device. How successful the attempt will be, we will be able see later this year. At least it will be possible to listen to a nice tune instead of hearing out somebody teaching you lessons.

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