Google Translate on Android: Mobile Translation Comes of Age

December 11, 2011

Really taken by this little tidbit from the Android folks, released as part of the 10th billionth Android app download celebration, giving us insight into how those apps are used:

100 million words are translated every week in 200 different countries on Google Translate.

You cannot but be impressed. Again, the mobile platform is leading change. And of the top 10 download countries, the US is number four. The rest are in Asia and EMEA.

Google Translate conversation mode on Android. Czech shown. Author's own.

I wonder how much Google Translate is used in those countries and how often English is the target language rather than the source?

Worth considering for your mobile app development and localization plans.

Ultan Ó Broin

Ultan Ó Broin (@localization), is an independent UX consultant. With three decades of UX and L10n experience and outreach, he specializes in helping people ensure their global digital transformation makes sense culturally and also reflects how users behave locally. Any views expressed are his own. Especially the ones you agree with.