Making Calls over Wi-Fi
You’re on vacation and that’s the best time to talk… ideally without paying too much. You thought of everything before you locked the door behind you: luggage, snacks for the road, activities to keep the kids busy. You even downloaded your itinerary onto your cellphone (check!). But did you think of cellphone coverage and possible roaming charges outside the country? It’s no surprise that when you leave Canada extra charges can be added to your monthly bill (the notorious “roaming charges”). It used to be like the Wild West but now Canadian law limits the roaming charges carriers are allowed to bill, and carriers are also offering travel plans so you can use your cellphone abroad. But there are other alternatives! Obviously, you can use social media to stay in touch while on vacation as well as many other communication apps like Skype, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. But there’s another very simple option already on your cellphone and all you have to do is activate it. Did you know you can make audio and/or video calls over Wi-Fi rather than using your carrier’s mobile network? What’s great about Wi-Fi calls is that you can still use your phone number instead of a name or handle linked to a third-party app. So you can be reached at your usual number –even if you switch to airplane mode outside the country. You can also make a call to someone’s home phone –yes, landlines do still exist 🙂 Money Talks We’re not talking pennies here: with Wi-Fi, you can generally avoid long-distance charges.You don’t have to worry if your plan doesn’t include a ton of data because when you make a video call via the Wi-Fi Call feature you’ll be using data on the network you’re connected to, not your plan’s data. It’s Practical Because of Québec’s enormous size, it’s difficult to find consistent coverage that’s strong everywhere. Here’s where Wi-Fi calling comes in handy. You’re with your family at the cottage and your cellphone signal is weak. Thankfully, you have access to the Internet. If you happen to lose the signal then you’ll be switched automatically to Wi-Fi calling. Here’s another example for outdoor enthusiasts who like to get off the beaten path (and far from cell reception!). You may not have a cell signal but if the cottage or any other nearby site has Internet, you can still call your friends and family. In fact, Wi-Fi calls can be made anywhere Wi-Fi is accessible. You could make a Wi-Fi call in a restaurant, pub, hotel, hostel… It’s true that enabling Wi-Fi calling requires a bit of work but it’s easy enough if you just follow these instructions: https://www.videotron.com/en/support/mobile/calls-and-voicemail/wi-fi-calling Turn on Wi-Fi calling and “expand” your cellphone coverage. It’s simple, practical and inexpensive.Stay connected
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Google has already made a name for itself as a leader in language processing in the era of globalization. The company has created an Assistant that understands several languages, it has developed a translation tool for its Android devices and added a webpage translation feature to its Chrome browser. Even Google Home devices can help you out by translating words for you. But the achievements don’t stop there. Google Assistant is now able to act as your personal interpreter! Here’s a look at the new interpreter mode, including: What is it? How do you use it? Who is it for? Essentially, the interpreter mode is a translation tool that works in real time. When activated, it listens to your conversation and translates each sentence. But what’s really neat is that it can translate in both directions to facilitate conversation between people speaking different languages. So, if you speak English to someone from Germany, it will translate each of your statements into German. And then it will translate their answers into English for you. In other words, it works as your interpreter. The new feature is currently available on Google Home devices and other gadgets that come equipped with Google Assistant. To activate interpreter mode, simply say “Hey Google, be my Spanish interpreter” or “Hey Google, help me speak Mandarin.” Note that you must use English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish to start using interpreter mode. The device will start listening to you talk and provide bilingual translation in the two languages you selected. Interpreter Mode currently supports 26 of the most widely spoken languages in the world. That means you still can’t use it for trips to places like Iceland, but it stands to reason that more languages will be added in the coming months. But the most important question is: Who will this feature help? While most of us will never be invited to a wine and cheese at the United Nations, new travel trends, like discount flight operators and alternative accommodations platforms (Airbnb), are making international travel more affordable than ever. Since language barriers still hold people back from travelling, Google Assistant’s interpreter mode may prove helpful to many. You could find yourself discussing history with a local teacher in Athens, art with a gallery owner in Milan or politics with a student in Berlin. New levels of cultural exchange are sure to follow! Of course, the interpreter feature also promises to enhance customer service, especially when paired with Smart Display. For example, think of how it could improve communication between employees and guests at a Spanish youth hostel. The tool could also help you hone your skills in a second language. All you have to do is say, “Ok Google, help me speak Hungarian,” and the Assistant will translate your English sentence into Hungarian. Then it’s just a matter of repeating the Hungarian sentence back and seeing whether the device is able to understand you well enough to translate the idea back into English. Google Assistant’s interpreter mode still has room for improvement, but it’s already pretty impressive thanks to Google’s experience in the translation field. When you think of how many people have to juggle different languages every day (business leaders, flight attendants, hotel concierges, ambassadors, tourist guides, and even hockey coaches), this new feature is sure to become very popular. And we expect it will get a lot better over time. It may eventually be able to start translating before a sentence is complete, just like human simultaneous interpreters. In fact, real-time interpreting seems even more plausible if you add wireless earbuds to the experience. Time will tell! Let us know what you think about Google Assistant’s interpreter mode on the Videotron Forum. Is this a game-changer or just another useless feature? If you think you’ll use it, tell us how! More information is available here: https://support.google.com/googlehome/answer/9234753?hl=en&ref_topic=7399445
