Globr provides its users with the ability to communicate via instant messaging, regardless of the languages being used. It automatically translates text from the senders language into the chosen tongue of the recipient.

It was one of seven shortlisted entries to the Virgin Media Business Three New Things competition that didn't win, but were still deemed worthy of a special mention. The contest aimed to uncover new technologies that have the potential to change the way we live.

The concept was apparently borne of a university romance between Globr founder Jimi Ayoku and a young Russian, who between them found that the subsequent language barrier was getting the way. Ayoku began working on the concept of seamless translation for instant messaging and, after 18 months of development, Globr is close to being launched. Although the tool is currently in private beta, Gizmag has been fortunate enough to get a look.