Verizon's Prepaid Interpretation Service Helps Eliminate Barriers in Communicating With Limited-English or Non-English Speakers |
On-Demand Prepaid Card Puts Users in Touch With Interpreters Speaking More
Than 170 Languages
NEW YORK, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- With the launch of the Verizon
Prepaid Interpretation Service, the inability to communicate with
non-English speakers should no longer be a problem that breaks a business
deal or prevents social interaction with a contact who speaks another
language.
The new service is the first of its kind to provide mobile, on-demand,
quick, global access to professional interpreters in more than 170
languages. It is ideal for travelers, business professionals or anyone
interacting with people who either speak no English or just a limited
amount.
"The world has become more accessible, but a major barrier to doing
business in a global community is the lack of a common language," said Ken
Kelley, product manager for Verizon. "By offering businesses and
international travelers an on-demand, mobile, over-the-phone and culturally
sensitive interpretation service, the language barrier can be bridged."
Utilizing the Verizon network, Language Line Services' leading
phone-based interpretation technology and a (patent-pending) prepaid card
format, the Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service is accessible from any
phone, 365 days a year.
"This new service allows anyone or any company to have fast, easy
access to reasonably priced and professionally trained interpreters when
their service is needed, so users can easily communicate with
limited-English or non-English speakers," said Kelley.
Key features of the Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service are:
-- Two versions of the prepaid card format for faster service. One
version offers a prepaid card for interpretations between English and
Spanish speakers only; the other is a prepaid interpretation card offering
access to interpreters who can provide English interpretation for more than
170 languages.
-- 24-7 access to 10 most-spoken languages. The top 10 most-requested
languages (currently Cantonese, French, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish,
Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese) are available any time, from
anywhere the service is accessible, 365 days a year; the remaining
languages are available year-round from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard
Time.
-- Optional pin-less dialing and recharge capability. Users can
register the phone numbers they call from most frequently and avoid
entering a PIN number. Users can also ensure they never run out of minutes
in the middle of a conversation through the service's automatic recharge
system, which adds a pre-determined dollar amount to a card's balance when
the time remaining drops to two minutes.
-- Certified medical interpreters. Users needing interpretation of more
complex matters have access to medically trained and certified interpreters
to provide assistance in the 22 most-spoken languages.
The Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service is both convenient and user-
friendly. In the United States, users simply dial the toll-free access
number on the back of the card, enter their PIN and follow the prompts. To
use the cards outside the United States, users first call the customer
service number on the back of the card to get the access code for the
country they will be calling from. They then dial that code and the 800
number found on the card to access the service. In the English-to-Spanish
version, a user is automatically connected to a Spanish interpreter. For
other languages, users reach an easy-to-navigate menu that asks them to
select their needed language. Seconds later, a Language Line Services
interpreter joins the call and remains on the line to carry out a three-way
conversation between the user and the non-English speaker the user needs to
communicate with.
If the user and non-English speaker are not in the same location, the
user can request the interpreter to conference in another party with a
domestic number.
The service also has an automated "help" function for users who are not
certain which language is spoken by the non-English speaker. The function
connects users with a live Language Line Services representative who can
quickly identify the needed language.
In addition to assisting individuals conducting business with
non-English speakers, the Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service will also
be a valuable tool for English speakers traveling abroad, new U.S.
residents and foreign tourists.
Louis Provenzano, president and chief operating officer of Language
Line Services, the world's largest global interpretation company, said,
"Every 31 seconds a limited-English speaker enters the United States. "The
Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service is a very handy tool that will
provide the resources to make the lack of a common language a non-issue."
The Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service card can be used within the
United States and from over 100 international locations. Cards can be
purchased in a $35 increment offering 10 minutes of access to an
interpreter; a $50 increment offering 15 minutes of access; and a $100
increment offering 33 minutes of access. The charges are for calls from
locations in the United States. Charges are higher when calling from
international locations.
Deductions to the value of the card do not begin until an interpreter
picks up. The card expires 24 months from the date the card is first used
or last recharged, whichever comes later.
For more information on Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service, please
call 1-800-235-4877 or visit http://interpreter.verizon.com.
About Language Line Services
Language Line Services, the world's leading provider of language-based
services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is
to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English
speakers. The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning phone
and video interpretation, document translation, interactive software-based
translation, interpreter training, and certification programs, enabling
clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language. Through
its leading- edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services
delivers support for over 170 unique languages to its industry-leading
portfolio of clients across markets including healthcare, financial
services, government, telecom, packaged goods, insurance services, travel,
and more. For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients
achieve their strategic multi- cultural marketing and regulatory compliance
objectives, please call 1-800- 752-6096 or visit http://www.LanguageLine.com.
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless
communication innovations to mass market, business, government and
wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable
wireless network, serving 60.7 million customers nationwide. Verizon's
Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and
seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon
Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications,
information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced
fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of
more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues
of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches
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releases.
SOURCE Verizon
back to topRelated links:
CONTACT:
Ellen Yu, Verizon, +1-908-559-3496,
ellen.yu@verizon.com; or Jeanine Karp, Language Line Services,
+1-305-448-3754, jeanine.karp@rbbpr.com
