On-Demand Prepaid Card Puts Users in Touch With Interpreters Speaking More Than 170 Languages

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.

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.

Key features of the Verizon Prepaid Interpretation Service are: 

• Two versions of the prepaid ard 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 StandardTime.
• 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.

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.

Source: Verizon press release

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