Finally Cisco Webex launched its interpretation feature. It is currently available in all Webex plans at no extra cost. Just go to your Webex control hub and enable it. We believe Webex is much better for simultaneous interpretation especially when many languages and interpreters are needed.

To enable simultaneous interpretation, you need to go to your admin profile and toggle the slide bar to right. On the same page, you can choose to add as many languages as you wish to your default language options. If you cannot see interpretation option, contact Webex support.

Once interpretation is enabled, you can see it under meeting option. Select enable interpretation under “advanced options / scheduling options” on the “schedule a meeting” screen.

When you enable simultaneous interpretation, you have to assign / invite at least one interpreter. Otherwise Webex will not allow you to schedule your meeting. On Zoom, you can bypass this, as you know.

We have prepared a video to show you how to add simultaneous interpreters to a Webex meeting. Check it out on YouTube (please click).

Once you are in a meeting you can invite or assign additional interpreters. You can also change / update the languages of interpreters. If you invite interpreters via email, they will be automatically assigned to their language channels after they join the meeting.

Please note that you cannot cancel a language channel if it is opened before the meeting. Languages added after the meeting can be removed.

Webex has an interpreter-friendly interface and has superior interpretation features compared to Zoom. To list a few:

  1. Interpreters can listen to their booth mate (monitoring)
  2. Interpreters are automatically assigned once they join a meeting
  3. Interpreters can choose to listen other channels (relay)
  4. Interpreters can request switch (handover)

Attendees can select any language and listen to professional interpreters. Attendees have an audio slider on the bottom left of their screen which allows them to adjust the sound volume of the speaker and the interpreter. One can choose to hear both, only interpreter or only speaker by simply sliding the button.

Simultaneous interpretation feature makes Cisco Webex meetings more inclusive and accessible.

You may also want to check official webex blog here: Webex blog on simultaneous interpretation

Here is our video where Umit Ozaydin explains why he believes Webex is better than Zoom (please click). 

Also please note that good sound is needed to make any event successful. This is even more true when you are using language interpretation.