Fresno added to live phone interpreter network

FRESNO
August 7, 2007 10:10am

Businesses in the Fresno area can now be part of a live interpreter telephone service that is free to callers.

The firms pay on a per call basis when they join the “Your World. Your Language” program sold by Language Line LLC of Monterey.

“It’s a completely free call for the consumer,” says Louis Provenzano, president and chief operating officer of the company that does business as Language Line Services.

“What we have found is that companies like AT&T recognize that a consumer is four times more likely to buy goods or services if that consumer is spoken to in their language.”

Unlike “free” 411 services that subject the caller to commercials before getting their information, there are no commercials with Language Line. Instead, the company connects callers with client businesses that have paid for the connections.

“They can only get a world partner who is on the network,” Mr. Provenzano explains.

The company offers translation services in Spanish, Mandarin and other languages including Cantonese (Chinese), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Its interpreters are based “in 18 times zones,” Mr. Provenzano says.

Language Line was started as part of AT&T 25 years ago. It is now a separate company although Language Line

The access numbers are 1-888-855-0811 and 1-877-TU-LINEA (877-885-4632) for Spanish speaking consumers.

Originally launched in San Francisco, the telephone-based interpretation service is now available to limited English-speakers throughout most of California, and will rollout nationwide by the close of 2008, the company says.