While it is possible to use an external service like Google Translate to do the translating, realtime translating in the Skype chat interface is usually the better choice as it is less complicated to use.

STranslator is a free software for Skype that integrates right into the popular voice over IP software. Make sure you have the latest version of Skype installed on the system before you run the installer of the translation software.

STranslator requires that the Java Runtime Environment is installed on the system. When you run it, it will automatically scan the Skype chat and start to add translations whenever different languages are detected. The program uses the default user profile language for this.

Say one of the chat users uses English, while another German. STranslator will automatically add translations to the original messages so that both appear in the Skype interface. Translations will automatically stop if users type in the same language.

It is furthermore possible to stop translations at any time with a right-click on the system tray icon and the selection of Pause from the context menu. Select activate when you want the translations to continue.

The developer has created a short demonstration video that highlights the program’s features.

STranslator runs in the background until you close the application. It works similar in many regards to Google Translator for Skype with the difference that the latter is a plugin for Skype with better integration in the voice over IP software.

Users who are looking for an instant chat translator for Skype may want to take a closer look at STranslator. The software is only available for the Windows operating system. Downloads are provided at the developer website.

Update: The Skype Chat translator is now also available for the Linux operating system.

Clownfish supports five translation services and dozens of languages. Among the translation services are Google Translate, Yahoo Translate and Bing Translate.

All configuration changes are made with a right-click on the application’s system tray icon and the selection of the setting directly in the context menu. That offers quick changes to the configuration but also problems if more than one setting needs to be changed.

Available for configuration are the translation services that are used for the translation, the from and to languages with options to set the from language to auto detect in some translation services, an option to enable the spell checker and an option to enable text to speech for incoming English messages.

Messages that are written in Skype are automatically translated according to the configuration settings. The translations are displayed in brackets next to the original message. The original message can be hidden in the options as well in case it should not be displayed in the Skype message window.

The translations are not perfect, but this is the case for all automated machine based language translations. Still, most of the time they provide a more or less clear meaning.

Clownfish for Skype is an interesting program, especially for Skype users who often need to chat with business partners, friends or colleagues who have another native language. For that it is unobtrusive and sufficient.

Clownfish is available for Windows operating systems only

The Skype Translator plugin is using Google Translator to provide automatic translations for Skype conversations. The plugin needs access rights which can be given or denied upon first start of the plugin and Skype.

Once the rights have been given it is possible to chat with contacts using the external interface. The interface consists of a separate chat window with translation options provided for messages that are send and received.

Sending a message with translation enabled will display the translated message to the chat partner. A protocol that is displaying the original and translated message is shown in the same program tab which makes it possible to chat directly from that tab without paying attention to the Skype window at all.

The translated messages that are send will appear in the original Skype window as well. Skype Translator is a plugin for the voip client. The plugin is available for download at the Skype website. It is only compatible with Windows operating systems and requires the Microsoft .net Framework 2.0.

The Skype plugin Skype Translator has been discontinued. We have covered two third party alternatives in the recent past. Skype Translator and Skype Chat Translator both utilize Google’s Translate Service to translate Skype chats in realtime.