Verizon Wireless today launched their foreign language applications for Get It Now-enabled wireless phones, allowing travelers to brush up on their Spanish, French, Japanese, or German.

Photo: Verizon Wireless Translates Foreign Languages on Phones Photo 1

Customers can easily access SkyZone's Merriam-Webster Spanish-English Dictionary to search for more than 100,000 translations and 80,000 entry words and phrases in both languages. Costing a $3.49 monthly access, users can beef up their vocabulary every time they open their mobile phone.

Consumers spotting someone on the street speaking Japanese, German or one of 20 different foreign languages can use VOCEL's Living Language program. Originally developed for use by the U.S. government, Living Language offers users the chance to learn more than 600 words, phrases and short readings and includes audio pronunciation of all words.

With Living Language, students choose how many questions they receive each day, what topics to cover and when class starts and ends. The mobile Living Language teacher will even send reminders and flashcards to the phone's screen, ensuring that the final report card will show off straight A's. Living Language costs $3.99 for monthly access or $9.49 for unlimited use.

With Spanish Anywhere from AppAbove, more than 1,200 common phrases can be translated from Spanish-to-English and vise versa, all from the convenience of select Get It Now-enabled phones. Spanish Anywhere quickly provides a clear and easy way for both native Spanish and English speakers to access more than 5,500 words and also features a verb conjugator with more than 1,000 Spanish and English verbs. Spanish Anywhere costs $2.99 for monthly access or $9.99 for unlimited use.

Get It Now applications vary by type of handset and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

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1. Posted by Cadd	Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:52 pm
Would be very helpful in California.
2. Posted by booboy	Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:57 pm
it sounds like this is software that needs to be run through verizon's network (montly service charge). So how is someone supposed to use it in japan when they dont have vzn coverage?
3. Posted by neek	Thu Jun 01, 2006 2:46 pm
It's just something nifty, an extra little feature for your device to help you out. I'm not sure if it's at all practical, but it's fun to have around and waste some time.
4. Posted by brianthebmf	Thu Jun 01, 2006 4:17 pm
it sounds like this is software that needs to be run through verizon's network (montly service charge). So how is someone supposed to use it in japan when they dont have vzn coverage? Verizon Wireless today launched their foreign language applications for Get It Now-enabled wireless phones, allowing travelers to brush up on their Spanish, French, Japanese, or German.
5. Posted by dorifto84	Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:21 pm
it's meant more for learning than for on the spot translating...
6. Posted by PunkRock	Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:31 pm
How good will the training be for $9 a month? Not very. Gimmick.
7. Posted by gironamo	Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:53 am
It's made to be something for fun and to kill the time. I would consider trying it out for a month or so.

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