Welsh Language Board introduces trial Welsh predictive text program

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A new software program which predicts Welsh words as the user types, has been introduced at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea, Wales, by the Welsh Language Board.

The board said the software can be downloaded direct to the user's mobile phone and confirmed the service will be available, free of charge, for a three month trial period. It will mean Welsh language texters do not have to add all the words they text, manually to the dictionary of their handset.

Welsh phrases incorporated into predictive text include Penblwydd hapus (happy birthday), Os gwelwch yn dda (please) and Llongyfarchiadau (congratulations). The board hopes as many Welsh speakers as possible, with suitable handsets, will participate in the trial, which is part of its strategy to normalise Welsh in IT.

The board is seeking feedback from the public as to how the service can be improved and confirmed it hopes to introduce the final version, free of charge, by the end of 2006 or in January 2007.

Mobile phone users wishing to take part in the trial can access the software from their handsets via http//:wap.tecstio.com or via the Welsh Language Board's website.

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