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Google Translate adds Cambodia’s Khmer as its 66th language
DigitalGoogle has announced Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, as the 66th language supported by Google Translate. There are an estimated 16 million native speakers of Khmer, mainly concentrated in Cambodia. Apple added Khmer support to OS X Lion back in 2011. Google Translate now comes with its own Khmer virtual keyboard and support for [...]
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Rosetta Stone buys language-learning startup Livemocha for $8.5 million
DigitalRosetta Stone has just acquired Seattle-based online language-learning community Livemocha for $8.5 million in cash. Livemocha has one of the largest online language-learning communities in the world, boasting over 16 million members from over 195 different countries. Rosetta Stone will likely use Livemocha’s cloud platform to offer its language packages online — they were once [...]
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Babbel’s $10 million in funding translates into more mobile platforms
DigitalBabbel, an online and mobile system for learning foreign languages, picked up $10 million in a Series B funding round, and the company says it will use it to expand georgraphically and onto additional mobile platforms. Reed Elsevier led the funding round, which included participation from Nokia Growth Partners and existing investors. This brings Berlin-based [...]
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Airbnb updates its iOS app to make the mobile and web booking experience more similar
DigitalAirbnb today released a new version of its iOS mobile app with some significant updates. To better target weary travellers and innkeepers this holiday season and beyond, Airbnb is adding support for 18 more languages; the ability to add reviews; and calendar access. All the updates bring the iOS app further in line with the company’s website, [...]
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JetBlue is looking to hire up to 400 bilingual flight attendants this winter
TransportDelta Air Lines Inc. is looking for up to 400 flight attendants, many of them for overseas flights for next summer. Roughly one-third of the hires will be people who speak the language in some of the overseas cities where Delta flies. It’s looking for speakers of Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin, and Hindi. Delta says it [...]
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TripLingo rolls out version 2.0 with free content and on-call human translators
DigitalEver boarded a plane without knowing how you’d figure out which bathroom door to go through upon arrival? Or tried to order chicken and end up with steak? Language barriers are one of the biggest stressors for North American travelers, says Carson Wagonlit Travel. TripLingo aimed to arm travelers with key phrases that are needed to [...]
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HotelTonight expands in Europe and Mexico with localized language capabilities
DigitalHotelTonight announced today that its discounted same-day hotel bookings are now available in five new international cities: Paris, Nice, Brussels, Mexico City, and Acapulco. This is the app’s first move into continental Europe after launching in the United Kingdom this June. HotelTonight is also releasing new versions of its iPhone, iPad, and Android apps in French, [...]
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Language learning startup Verbling adds classes via Google Hangouts and 9 new languages
Digital…a new generation of startups are leveraging advances in mobile and web technologies to make that process more enjoyable and rewarding. …Verbling, a venture-backed startup that wants to help turn language learners into polyglots by using video chat to connect them with real, live native speakers. Unlike the text-focused and algorithm-based Duolingo, Verbling wants to [...]
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British travelers almost completely agree that there’s “no point” learning local languages
DestinationsJust 10 per cent of British holidaymakers will attempt to speak the local language, according to a new poll.
The reputation of Britons as lazy linguists shows no sign of diminishing, with a new poll suggesting that just one in ten of us make any attemp…
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Southwest prepares to go global with launch of Spanish language website
TransportSouthwest launched a Spanish-language version of its site Thursday morning, although translations are not yet available on its mobile site or app. The airline is looking to expand its routes overseas and is currently improving international capabilities to complete the integration of AirTran Airways, which it acquired in May. AirTran already fliesto several cities in [...]
