Konica Minolta Japan will launch an AI-powered telephone interpretation service, part of its multilingual communication support service ‘KOTOBAL,’ that utilizes the existing landline telephones, with the rollout scheduled to take place within the 2026 fiscal year.

By connecting a dedicated adapter to a standard landline phone (equipped with a handset) and linking it to a web browser on a computer, the system provides two-way interpretation for conversations with the other party on the line. This allows businesses to handle calls in multiple languages (English, Chinese, and Korean) without needing to change their current telephone setup.

The service uses AI to translate English, Chinese, or Korean speech from the caller into Japanese, which is then displayed in a web browser. Conversely, Japanese spoken by staff is translated into the caller's language and delivered via audio. The content of the interpretation can be viewed on the screen.

Furthermore, because the interpreted conversations can be recorded and saved, the data can be used to review past interactions, facilitate handovers, or share information among staff. The service is suitable for various scenarios, including handling general inquiries, managing reservations, or responding to calls from hotel guest rooms in English, Chinese, or Korean.