PDAs to become mini towers of Babel

NEWS IBM is looking to bring a foreign tongue to the PDA's repertoire. Big Blue will today start selling its ViaVoice Translator software for PDAs that use Microsoft's PocketPC operating system. IBM's software will translate English to and from French, German, Italian and Spanish. The ViaVoice Translator is part of a new push by IBM, HP and several small start-ups to give handhelds a voice. For example, Jornada, a PDA HP has been developing will take photos, scan them for foreign text and translate the text into any number of languages. And the Phraselator talking PDA uses speech-recognition software to translate military commands for US troops in Afghanistan. The device is built by Marine Acoustics and sold by VoxTec, of Rhode Island. The problem with translation software is it uses up a lot of memory for PDAs, and IBM concedes the ViaVoice Translator is no different. IBM recommends users increase their PDA's memory with another 128MB of RAM if they plan to install the software package. The software, priced at US$50, will be available by download on IBM's website and sold on CDs at retail outlets.