T-Mobile Unveils AI-Powered Live Translation for Phone Calls

Daily Technology

20/02/2026

T-Mobile is set to revolutionize phone conversations with its upcoming Live Translation feature, leveraging advanced AI to break down language barriers directly at the network level. This innovative service aims to make international communication seamless, allowing users to converse in real-time without relying on external apps or devices. The feature is slated for testing this spring, with registration for a beta program now open to T-Mobile post-paid subscribers.

Key Takeaways

T-Mobile is introducing a network-level AI agent for live call translation.
The service supports over 50 languages and works even on basic phones.
Activation is simple: dial 87 during a call.
The AI aims to clone the user's voice, preserving intonation and emotion.
This is the first of T-Mobile's planned agentic AI features.

Seamless Communication Across Languages

Currently, real-time translation on phones often requires specific devices or app installations. T-Mobile's Live Translation aims to eliminate these hurdles by integrating the technology into its network infrastructure. This means users with virtually any phone, including basic models, can participate in calls with individuals speaking different languages. The service will support over 50 languages, with the AI agent automatically detecting and translating conversations as they happen.

How Live Translation Works

To activate the feature during a call, T-Mobile subscribers simply need to dial 87. Only one participant on the call needs to be a T-Mobile customer for the translation to function, and it will also be available when customers are roaming internationally. The AI agent intelligently identifies the languages being spoken and provides spoken translations after each person finishes speaking. It can also detect the user's location to select an appropriate translation language, and will dynamically switch if the spoken language differs from the initial detection.

Advanced AI for Natural Conversations

One of the most striking aspects of T-Mobile's Live Translation is its AI's ability to clone the user's voice. According to John Saw, T-Mobile's president of technology and chief technology officer, the AI model can replicate the speaker's intonation, emotions, and rhythm in the translated language. This is made possible by the low latency of T-Mobile's 5G Advanced network. The feature is designed to be non-intrusive; if both speakers begin using the same language, the AI agent will automatically disengage.

T-Mobile has conducted extensive benchmarks to ensure the accuracy of its AI translations, claiming they match established services and comply with FCC captioning guidelines and ADA accessibility standards. Privacy is also a key consideration, with Saw confirming that customer calls are not recorded or used for training AI models, adhering to FCC privacy guidelines.

The Future of Network AI

Live Translation is just the beginning of T-Mobile's exploration into agentic AI features. The company sees its network architecture as a platform capable of integrating and updating AI models efficiently, potentially enabling features like AI receptionists or concierges in the future. While the exact AI models and partners remain undisclosed, T-Mobile is collaborating with several AI companies to bring these innovations to its customers.

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