1) Qu’avez-vous dit?

It’s a pretty typical new year’s resolution…”This year, I’m going to learn (whatever) language”. I say it all the time. I know for me, besides learning to juggle, perfecting my French has been up there for a while, which is being VERY generous to my current level of French. Do I do it? Of course not. But not everyone has to know that…and the VoxOx Universal Translator gives us a really nice shortcut. So I took advantage and faked out my Facebook friend Laura, from Paris mind you.

I found Laura in my VoxOx buddy list (under Facebook friends) and clicked the globe icon on the bottom right of the VoxOx chat window, selecting “English” for my language and “French” for hers. Then I started chatting with her in perfect French, convincing her that I suddenly was quite the francophone savant. Good times…I mean, quelle bon temps!

Quick Tip: Facebook translation works best when the person on the FB leg of the conversation has their default language set appropriately so that the symbols and characters come out right on their end.

2) Update my Twitter status via @reply…in Italian

Because..you know, why not. Kinda fun to write “vi soggiorno di classe, San Diego. Sono Ron Burgundy?”

Just find an unsuspecting Twitter contact in your VoxOx buddy list, click on the Twitter logo by their name, and select “reply to”. Then set your languages and blast! Now your Twitter status is in Italian and your friend knows that you’re… Ron… Burgundy?

3) Email….anyone, anywhere

Not to be all bussinessy, but ever have to send emails to a client, or a colleague who doesn’t speak your language very well? Well, this new tool is great for just that, and this way you don’t have to go back and forth from some online translating site. Just open up the email tab of whatever contact you want to email, click the globe icon again and off you go. You might even get business out of this…but go ahead and keep the commission for yourself, we’re in it for the love and adoration of our fans, not the money.

4) Text message my new Russian mail order bride

Just kidding.

5) Communicating with my Spanish in-laws

Well, not mine per se…since I don’t, you know, have any in-laws…But a friend of mine just got engaged to a girl from Zaragoza, Spain, and her family speaks zero English. Not the best way to keep yourself very ingratiated with the mother-in-law. But with the new VoxOx Universal Translator, his awkward family interactions can be a thing of the past…well, maybe, but at least there’s finally a way for him to placate his new extended family without just nodding and smiling. This doesn’t have to apply just to in laws of course. Use this tool to finally get to know your family from around the world better with just a few clicks!

Well that’s it for me. Thanks for reading everyone, and remember to keep on Voxin’

Ben a.k.a “the Intern”

Ben, the VoxOx Intern, is a second-year MBA student at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has drunk beer on 4 continents, is fluent in 3 languages and has an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure NBA players. Ben also...wait, are you really still reading this? Because, you know, he's just an intern.

follow Ben a.k.a “The Intern” twitter.com/voxox

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VoxOx helps you stay connected and productive -- even in the stratosphere.

Greetings VoxOx Beta Community,

If you’re like me (and for a lot of reasons, let’s hope you aren’t) you’re reading this on your computer screen, the TV is on behind that, you’ve got at least one text conversation going on in VoxOx, and Facebook is a constant browser tab. We’re always connected, always tuned in, always delightfully distracted and always within reach of friends and family.

We’ll (ok, I’ll) call ourselves the tech-distracted (savvy?) generation (hey look, shiny!). So, what’s a tech-distracted-generation-person supposed to do on those seven hours flying coast to coast, with no Internet, no phones, no money for a portable DVD player, no TV (usually) and only overpriced, print (GASP) magazines or newspapers to read?

Fly Virgin Airlines, Delta, or American, bring your laptop, sit down, take a deep breath, wipe the sweat from your brow and log on to the wi-fi offered by those airlines and others. That’s right, the Internet can now distract you at 30,000 feet and, of course, where there is Internet, there is VoxOx! So now, no matter how high you are, you’ll be able to carry on a conversation.

About five years ago, companies such as AirCell and Verizon developed the technology to keep us connected from above, with Boeing signing on as one of the first airplane manufacturers to integrate wi-fi technology into their latest models. What this means for us is that, while your cell phone still won’t be allowed in flight, your VoxOx will! Well, at least for now, that is. Several airlines are contemplating banning Internet-based calling and video conferencing as well, so as not to disturb (piss off) other passengers (read this). But don’t worry, even if they do ban calling on planes, you can still use these features from the sky with VoxOx:

• Send text messages to your friends, family and colleagues anywhere in the world
• Update your Facebook, Twitter or MySpace status
• If you’re feeling productive, send a fax or share a file
• Instant message with your friends (VoxOx integrates them all!)
• For now, you can still use VoxOx for calling or video calls. Just be ready for looks (not good ones).

Keep in mind that there is typically a cost involved for wi-fi, anywhere from $6-$24 for a flight, and airlines generally give you either per hour or per flight pricing options. On the other hand, you’re already spending $15 minimum on those magazines or a book — in the end it’s a wash. So to all the fellow tech-distracted people out there, get your VoxOx on from the clouds, and make your next flight, a connected flight, with the one and only universal communicator.

Ben, the VoxOx Intern, is a second-year MBA student at the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has drunk beer on 4 continents, is fluent in 3 languages and has an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure NBA players. Ben also...wait, are you really still reading this? Because, you know, he's just an intern.

follow Ben a.k.a “The Intern” twitter.com/voxox

follow VoxOx twitter.com/voxox