Microsoft is currently working on an inline chat translation feature for Microsoft Teams for iOS and Android which will let you translate chat messages into the language you choose. According to the Microsoft 365 admin center, the feature will be rolling out first for iOS in late June 2020, and its general availability is expected in mid-July.
The AI-powered feature is already available for all desktop users and it leverages Microsoft’s Translation Services to translate messages for you. Microsoft described its functionality as follows:
Inline message translation will ensure that every worker in the team has a voice and facilitate global collaboration. With a simple click, people who speak different languages can fluidly communicate with one another by translating posts in channels and chat. This feature will now be available on iOS.
When the feature does roll out later this month, Microsoft 365 admins will need to enable the feature from the Microsoft Teams admin center. Teams users on iOS who receive a chat message in another language will be able to instantly translate that chat message into the language they have specified in their personal language settings. If users receive a chat message in another language, they will simply press-and-hold the message to see the translation option, and then they will be able to change the default language by going to Settings > General > Translation.
As of this writing, there is no word on when the inline chat translation support is coming to Android devices, and we will let you know as soon as there is an official announcement from Microsoft in the coming weeks.
