Google to integrate Kazakh language into its on-line translation service

Vladimir Dolgov, Google Russia General Director, announced at the Communications Kazakhstan 2011 conference that Google would be working on integrating Kazakh language into the Company’s on-line translation service, Tengrinews.kz reports. According to him, Google should cater to those many in need of a decent translation service that would feature Kazakh language. “I’ve learned a lot for the two-three hours I’ve been here. Ten minutes ago I learned that Google offers search possibilities in Kazakh language, however there is no Kazakh language translation service”, Mr. Dolgov said. “There are millions of people who need such a translation service. This means that such a service should be made available”, Mr. Dolgov said, adding that “the Kazakh segment of the world web is developing rampantly with IT penetrating into remote country regions (…) the penetration rate is to catch up with that of Russia shortly”. Digital Communication Kazakhstan 2011 exhibition and conference was held in the Independence Palace in Astana on September, 14-16. Major companies specializing in cellular communications, telecommunications, Internet and social media such as Google, HTC, Sony, LG, Beeline, Tele 2 and Huawei were taking part in the exhibition. Late July Tengrinews.kz reported that thenumber of Internet users in Kazakhstan had exceeded 5 million people (34% of the country’s population), citing the Ministry of Communications. Over 58 000 domain names had been registered in the Kazakhstan’s segment of the worldwide web by that time. The annual growth of the figure stands at 20-25%.