Pocketalk Frequently Asked Questions

Pocketalk needs an internet connection while in use. It sends what you say to several leading translation engines, then returns the result best suited to that language pair. Those engines keep improving, so translations get more accurate over time without you updating anything.

Dual microphones with noise cancellation, and a speaker loud enough for busy places. The device picks the translation engine best suited to each language pair automatically, so results stay consistent. You never have to hand your own phone to a stranger. And it runs 6.6 hours on a charge — one button, no app to open.

Yes. The device is built for real conversation, so speak in full sentences as you normally would rather than word by word. Each translation accepts up to 30 seconds of continuous speech.

Beyond the 92 core languages, the device carries an additional group that supports one-way translation only. You can speak English and have it translated into one of those languages, but not the other way around.

That language sits outside the 92 core languages. Set your source language to one of the 92, then translate into that language one-way instead.

No. Translation requires an internet connection — the built-in eSIM, Wi-Fi, or a hotspot from your phone — because the processing happens in the cloud. The one exception: phrases you save as Favorites still play audio offline, in English, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, German and Italian.

No. Models with built-in data ship with an embedded eSIM. Turn the device on for the first time and it connects to the internet by itself, in 170 countries.

Yes. The device has a separate nano-SIM slot if you would rather use your own SIM than the built-in data.

The clock starts the first time you switch the device on — two years on S2 and S2 Plus, five years on the Premium Edition that comes with Ventana. When it expires you can renew at USD 50 per year, or switch to Wi-Fi or your own SIM card instead.

Inside China, local Wi-Fi networks and prepaid SIM cards sold there may not work for translation because of network regulations. If your device has no built-in data, turn on “China Mode” under Region of Use — fewer languages are available in that mode. Once you leave China, switch back to “Global Mode” for the full language list.

Neither. The device can join a Wi-Fi network or a hotspot from your phone, but it cannot broadcast a connection to other devices. Bluetooth is for connecting speakers or headphones only — it does not support internet sharing.

Any standard USB Type-C cable, available at any electronics shop. The requirement is input up to 5V and output up to 2A. A full charge takes about 105 minutes.

Models with built-in data use an eSIM — a chip embedded in the device, not a card you can remove — so finding nothing is normal. Check under Settings → Device info: IMEI (Embedded SIM) means built-in data; IMEI (SIM slot) means the model takes your own SIM card.

First check the transcription on screen — did the device hear what you actually said? If the transcription is wrong, say it again a little more slowly, somewhere quieter. If the transcription is right but the meaning is off, try a shorter, more direct sentence.

Please contact support so the unit can be checked — SiS Distribution (Thailand) PCL, Khun Sarush, tel. 088-618-3571, LINE ID: stdjc

There is no limit to the number of participants. Each attendee simply scans a QR code on their own device, making it ideal for events ranging from hundreds to thousands of attendees.

No. Participants simply scan the QR code and access the service through their mobile browser. No app download or additional hardware is required.

A laptop with a stable wired internet connection (minimum 10 Mbps), and a cable to connect the laptop to the venue's audio mixer. Crestec's team will assist with setup and configuration.

We recommend contacting us at least 2–3 weeks before your event to allow time for setup preparation and a technical check. A 7-day free trial is available — contact us to arrange.

Pocketalk Live Translation is a web-based AI translation service that shows real-time translated captions during meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations — participants view translations instantly on their own device.

Pocketalk Conference is booked per event, with our team assisting on-site. Live Translation is an annual subscription to the same Sentio engine, managed by your own team — so you can run translated sessions any day, any time, without booking ahead.

No. Live Translation runs entirely in a web browser — no software installation required on any device.

Each session runs continuously for up to 90 minutes before requiring a quick restart. The QR code or link stays valid for 6 hours, so participants can rejoin easily throughout a longer event or workday.

Up to 500 participants can join a single session, each scanning the QR code on their own device — no account required.

Yes. Live Translation works for both in-person and online meetings, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet — participants simply scan the QR code as usual.

Yes. Sentio also works in solo mode — open it, choose your language, and ambient speech is translated on your screen. This is useful for personal use, such as watching the news, studying a new language, or practicing pronunciation.

No. Once a session is started, Live Translation automatically listens and translates in real time as people speak.

Yes. Spoken words are converted into translated captions instantly, shown as text on each participant's screen.

Yes, using multiple AI translation engines to improve accuracy. For highly specialized terminology, we recommend testing with your own meeting content during the 7-day free trial.

Accuracy is generally very high for clear speech. Results can vary depending on audio quality, speaking speed, internet connection, and the complexity of the conversation.

No. An internet connection is required, as Live Translation uses cloud-based AI translation engines.

Yes. A CSV file of the session can be downloaded while you're signed in. Once you sign out, the CSV is automatically deleted, so be sure to download it before ending your session.

A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a stable internet connection. For the best results, we recommend using a good-quality microphone.

The latest versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari, and other modern browsers are recommended.

No. The annual subscription includes unlimited sessions for the full year — use it as often as you need.

Currently, only the Pocketalk W model is available for rental. It's a compact, two-button handheld translator supporting 80+ languages — built for travel, short projects, and one-off events.

Rentals are available from 1 day up to 30 days, with better daily value on longer packages. Contact us to check availability and reserve your device.

Yes, a refundable deposit of ฿1,000 per device is required.

No — Pocketalk W does not support direct Thai-to-Japanese or Japanese-to-Thai translation. It supports 80+ other languages. If Thai-Japanese translation is essential for your use case, please contact us to discuss alternative options.

No. Pocketalk W has no camera (so it doesn't support text or image translation) and no eSIM — it requires your own Wi-Fi connection.

Yes. All conversations are encrypted end-to-end and deleted immediately after processing. Pocketalk complies with HIPAA (U.S.) and GDPR (Europe) — equivalent to Thailand's PDPA requirements — as well as ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and COPPA/FERPA standards. AI partners do not access or use conversation data for training without consent.

ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management. It means an organization has formal systems in place to protect data — covering how information is accessed, stored, and handled securely.

ISO 27017 is an extension of ISO 27001 focused specifically on cloud services. It sets out additional security controls for data that is processed or stored in the cloud — directly relevant since Pocketalk's translation runs through cloud-based AI engines.

HIPAA (the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets strict rules for protecting sensitive personal and health information. Pocketalk's compliance means it meets these strict U.S. privacy and security requirements, even for non-healthcare conversations.

GDPR (the EU General Data Protection Regulation) governs how personal data is collected, stored, and used. It gives individuals strong rights over their own data and requires companies to handle it responsibly — broadly equivalent to Thailand's PDPA.

COPPA (the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) protects the online privacy of children under 13, restricting how their personal information can be collected and used.

FERPA (the U.S. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student education records — relevant for schools and training programs using Pocketalk.