Google today launched the Google Transliteration IME, a desktop application that it said allows users to type in 14 languages using a roman keyboard on any application with or without an internet connection.
"Users type the word the way it sounds using Latin Characters and Google Transliteration IME will convert the word to its native script", the internet search engine said in a statement.
Google Transliteration IME is available as a free download and offers features including offline support, word completion, personalised choices, easy-to-use keyboard, quick search and customisation options.
It was conceived and developed in India at Google's R&D Centre here and is currently available in 14 languages -- Arabic, Bengali, Farsi (Persian), Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The Google Transliteration IME currently supports Windows 7/Vista/XP.
"Our IME enables Indian users whether they are businesses, students, or teachers to create content and communicate effectively in their local language", said Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, Senior Product Manager, Google India.
For example, a small business owner could create marketing material or email their consumers and suppliers in their local language and a teacher can create educational material such as question papers in their local language using Google's IME.
Google Transliteration is also available in Gmail, orkut, Blogger, Knol and as a bookmarklet.