Skype has for several years now helped people around the world communicate with one another, provided they speak the same language.

Now, you don't even need to speak the same language.

Skype has partnered up with Language Line to offer on-demand personal interpreters. According to Skype, this "pay-as-you-go service allows quick and easy access highly skilled & certified interpreters in more than 150 languages directly from your Skype phone, for only $2.99 USD per minute. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."

Skype promises to connect you to an interpreter in 45 seconds. Now, one hour of small talk is going to cost you -- so much in fact that you'd be better off hiring your own interpreter. But for brief calls or for businesses that need to field a lot of different languages, this could be a very nifty service. Skype has put together a handy service that is ideal for small business owners, of which there are plenty.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried this new service...

PS: Here are the most-requested languages so far:

Spanish
Mandarin
Russian
Vietnamese
Korean
Cantonese
Portuguese
Polish
French
Japanese