VoxSwap language site launches, as FriendsAbroad adds features
Voxswap is hoping its extra linguistic-friendly features, such as a virtual keyboard which supports multiple languages and characters, auto-links to Google Translator and news feeds in multiple languages, will set it apart from the other sites in this sector such as the larger and older FriendsAbroad. VoxSwap has been co-founded by freelance journalist Sean Hargrave and his wife Nicole.
FriendsAbroad meanwhile has launched a Skype integration and now has over half a million users. Most though are still free users – a small proportion are paying the sub of €15 a year. At the start of the year it also launched sister site Doyouspeak, an online English language school using Skype for voice conferencing and teaching up to 4 students at once in an ‘online classroom’ system. The site is initially being marketed in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. FriendsAbroad is backed by, among others, Simon Murdoch serial UK entrepreneur and the original head of Amazon UK.