Facebook now offers an option to translate pages, including comments, into any language via a link that appears under public pages’ posts. The feature works through Microsoft’s Bing Translator, and is yet another example of Microsoft and Facebook teaming up to utilize the data-rich Facebook social graph.
In May 2011, Bing debuted social search with a new Facebook integration that surfaces search results based on what a user’s Facebook friends “liked” the most. By installing the Bing Toolbar (PC-only), users have the option to connect through Facebook, thus enabling the social search feature. They can also choose to opt out.
Microsoft’s investment with Facebook has always been strong – they were one of the early investors in the social platform, so Bing has been able to freely integrate with Facebook as they please.
The new Bing Translation feature on Facebook pages is yet another step toward Facebook’s bigger goal: to make the Web fully focused on social search.
Do you use Bing social search? How do you think Facebook’s new translation service will affect Facebook’s global reach?
