IPadOS 17 Productivity Features – Computerworld

Breaking Down Language Barriers with Real-Time Translation

Apple’s new Live Translation feature, powered by a dedicated call Translation API, promises to revolutionize global communication. This technology delivers near-instantaneous translation during calls and messaging, fostering more productive interactions across linguistic divides – and it all happens directly on your device.

The core functionality provides real-time translation captions in five key languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. When initiating a call through the Phone app,your spoken words are translated and relayed to the recipient in their language,while their responses are simultaneously translated back to you via a synthetic voice and displayed as on-screen captions. notably, this capability extends beyond the Apple ecosystem; the person you’re calling does not need to be an iPhone or iPad user to benefit from the translation.

This feature is poised to be particularly valuable for international business professionals. The underlying API allows developers to integrate translation directly into both internal company applications and customer-facing tools. Beyond live calls, the Messages app also supports translation for text-based communication, extending coverage to include Italian, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese, in addition to the initial five languages.

As of September 15, 2025, this technology represents a meaningful step forward in accessible global communication, removing a key obstacle to seamless international collaboration.