Skype Translator, the revolutionary feature that Microsoft presented earlier this year and that was until now available for users who signed up for the preview program, is now free of charge and registration-free for those on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

In order to use the service, you must download the Skype Translator Preview app from the Windows Store of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, and you only have to log in with your Skype credentials.

The app looks and feels just like the modern version of Skype, but it bundles free translation options for different languages, namely English, Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin. All these languages are supported for phone and video calls, but for instant messaging, another 50 are available.

Basically, thanks to IM support, you can write your message in your language and the recipient gets it in their own language, so the language barrier no longer exists when using the app.

Support for more languages is coming

Microsoft is now working to add support for more languages in the Skype Translator Preview app, so very soon other popular languages such as French, Italian, and German are very likely to be included.

“Skype Translator is transforming communications one conversation at a time - it’s potential in breaking down barriers is only limited by our own imaginations! Our goal for Skype Translator is to translate as many languages as possible on relevant platforms, and to deliver the best speech translation experience to our more than 300 million connected Skype customers,” the company says.

Right now, this feature only works in the Modern UI of Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, but there’s no doubt that Microsoft will bring it in the desktop version of Skype as well. Of course, it can also arrive on other platforms, but it remains to be seen when this would actually happen.