If you're someone who does business, travels or has made acquaintances around the world, then a new app called “Sendboo” could be very useful. The core functionality of the app is IP-based text messaging. However, what sets this app apart from similar applications is integrated translation software that provides real-time translation into 30 languages. Here's an example of what this means. Let's say while on vacation you make a new friend at a Real Madrid match. Your new friend's spoken English might be fine but his written English isn't very strong. If you use Sendboo to send him a text message, any English messages you send will be automatically translated to Spanish. That way the two of you easily can stay in touch. This top-of-the-line app is an easy-to-use, fast and convenient platform, allowing people to exchange messages without having to pay SMS charges. Users set the app to the preferred language, send a message and the system translates this message into the preferred language of the recipient in real-time. Sendboo offers unlimited image, video and audio media messaging and group chat. With group chat, three or more individuals can text one another in the language of their choice. Messages received by each chat participant will be automatically translated, if necessary. Supported languages include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. “Sendboo is a game changer in day-to-day communications,” said Alfredo Reviati, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sendboo. “Given widespread adoption of smartphones and the convergence of mobile and IP-based messaging, we recognized an opportunity to eliminate the language barrier that exists in communications. Sendboo offers an easy messaging solution for users seeking a better way to communicate not only with current friends and colleagues, but also with new individuals that may speak a different language. Whether for work or social interactions, Sendboo will revolutionize global communications.” Reviati has been an entrepreneur since age 19, and has launched and managed multiple successful ventures in the technology, real estate, chemicals and automotive industries. His passion for Sendboo comes from his own personal experience managing projects from Beijing to Miami. In those international engagements, he found that language could be a difficult barrier to the development of both personal and professional relationships. Reviati's hope is that Sendboo will change that. Initially the app is compatible with the Apple iOS mobile operating system and will become available for Android devices during the first quarter of 2013. Sendboo works on a phone or tablet's Internet data plan or Wi-Fi connectivity, so there are no costs associated with SMS text messaging. According to Reviati, currently the app utilizes an open-source, third-party translation service to provide the real-time message translation made possible only through Sendboo. There is an effort though to work in parallel with the app's ongoing development to create a proprietary translation functionality that improves upon many of the caveats associated with today's translators such as unique dialects, country-specific terminology and common instant messaging abbreviations. The Sendboo CEO admitted that linguistic elements such as local dialects and right-left languages are not perfectly integrated into automated translation programs such as the one utilized by Sendboo, but the goal is that the proprietary system will better cope with these challenges. Learning how Sendboo functions, there could be a concern that the app is storing every message for sale to a third party marketer, but Reviati was quick to calm such fears. “The application stores encrypted and protected information as part of the registration process for Sendboo accounts,” said Reviati. “This is the information provided by the user including name, e-mail and Sendboo username or ID. During a chat, once messages are sent and received, they are deleted from the server. In other words, what is saved is a log of the message, but not the content of the message. This process of deleting messages is immediate for one-on-one chats, and in the case of group conversations, this process takes just 24 hours. In any potential case where a message could not be delivered, it is saved on the server for a number of hours equivalent to one month. After this period, the message is erased from the server. Sendboo's database of users is private and under no circumstances is it rented or sold for advertising purposes. The marketing of our database is not part of our business model.” As a start-up technology company, Sendboo has received funding from a variety of investors and stakeholders. Sendboo Free is partially funded through display advertising that offers adequate real estate for advertisers without hampering the overall user experience and interface. For a one-time fee of $ 3.99, Sendboo Plus provides a completely ad-free experience and unlimited messaging.
