Microsoft introduced the world to its Skype Translator just over a year ago, giving us a glimpse of the new tool that allows users to speak in their own language, while their chat partner receives a translated transcript into his or her language, in almost real-time.

Last month, it launched an open preview on Windows, and it has now announced the next stage in its plan to roll it out to more users.

Since the open beta began, Skype Translator usage has increased by 300% – but it still requires users to download a standalone app to try it out. The next major phase in the rollout will come at the end of this summer, when Microsoft begins the process of making it available as an integrated component of the existing Skype desktop app for Windows.

The preview currently works with four spoken languages – English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin – along with 50 written languages, but the company says that more will be added.