
Telephone interpreting services can be a game-changer for individuals who need to communicate in a language they're not fluent in.
These services provide real-time interpretation over the phone, allowing people to communicate effectively with others who speak different languages.
They're commonly used in healthcare settings, where patients may not speak the same language as their healthcare providers.
For example, a study found that telephone interpreting services increased patient satisfaction and reduced misunderstandings in healthcare settings.
By using these services, individuals can get the help they need without having to physically travel to a location.
Telephone interpreting services can also be used in business settings, where communication with international clients or customers is necessary.
This can be especially helpful for companies that don't have the resources to hire a full-time interpreter.
In fact, a survey found that 75% of businesses reported an increase in sales after using telephone interpreting services.
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Benefits and Advantages
Telephone interpreting offers numerous benefits and advantages that can enhance your business interactions.
Working with a telephone interpreting service can add to your company's prestige as clients see that you're committed to understanding and communicating with them in their language.
By using telephone interpreting, you can save resources and pay only for the actual time used, eliminating the need to hire an interpreter for a full day or cover travel expenses.
Here are some of the key benefits of telephone interpreting:
- Prestige: your client sees that you work with someone who can understand and express themselves in their language.
- Savings: no need to hire an interpreter for half a day or an entire day, or pay for travel expenses.
- Anywhere: meetings can be held without the need for travel, allowing you to stay in your offices.
- Quick organization: managing meetings is easier and there's no logistical burden on you or your team.
Advantages
Using an interpreting service has numerous advantages that can benefit your business. You'll gain prestige, as your client will see that you can communicate with them in their language.
This can be a significant plus for your company's reputation. With an interpreting service, you can hold meetings with clients from anywhere in the world without having to travel.
No need to worry about arranging flights or accommodation for an interpreter, which can save you money. You'll only pay for the time the service is used, making it a cost-effective option.
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This means you can make the most of your resources and budget. Using an interpreting service also makes quick organization a breeze. You won't have to find a conference room, plan a video call, or hire an interpreter based in your city or the other party's location.
This eliminates the logistical burden on you and your team, making it easier to manage international meetings and communications.
Industries Using Interpreting
Any company can benefit from incorporating over-the-phone interpreting services into their regular operations, especially with the increasing globalization of organizations' customer bases and workforces.
A large list of industries require vocal communication and over-the-phone interpreting services, including those with diverse customer bases or international business operations.
Healthcare providers, for example, can benefit from OPI services to communicate with patients who speak different languages.
Hotels and restaurants can also use OPI services to cater to international travelers and guests who may not speak the local language.
Given the increasing need for language access, any company may benefit from incorporating OPI into their regular operations to better serve their customers and employees.
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Features and Services
ALTA offers three unique over-the-phone interpreting packages, including a pay-as-you-go option with a small monthly minimum, a monthly charge account, and an on-demand service with a 24-hour notice.
Their pay-as-you-go option charges only by the amount of minutes used, and their average connect time for popular languages is less than 20 seconds.
You can also set up a monthly charge account with ALTA, which gives you instant access to interpreters in hundreds of languages, available Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
To set up an account or learn more, call 404.920.3860 or email [email protected].
ALTA's services are available 24/7/365 with their monthly membership package.
Here are some key features of ALTA's services:
- More than 200 languages
- Easy access to phone interpreters
- Quick phone connections
- High capacity
- Great reporting and access to data
Their interpreters are available in hundreds of languages, and you can get instant access to them once you set up an account.
You can also rely on the Boostlingo Hub as a fail-safe option to always serve your clients, which offers on-demand phone interpreters in 300+ languages.
Unmatched Quality
Telephone interpreting offers unmatched quality, ensuring that your communication needs are met with precision and care. Our interpreters are certified by nationally recognized organizations or have been tested by ALTA for language proficiency, interpreting skills, and the standards for ethical conduct.
With rigorous screening requirements, we verify and validate credentialing for each interpreter, covering 12 key areas such as criminal history and background checks, ATA and National Council certifications, HIPAA regulations compliance and sign off, NDA sign off, English/Native language comprehension testing, and 120 hours of industry and cultural sensitivity training.
Our interpreters are experienced professionals who guarantee accuracy and provide quick phone connections to over 300 languages. We have a network of 17,000+ qualified interpreters at your disposal.
Here are some key features that set our telephone interpreting services apart:
- Guaranteed accuracy
- Experienced professional interpreters
- Rigorous screening requirements
- Frequent quality checks
These features ensure that you receive high-quality service every time you use our telephone interpreting services.
Packages and Options
ALTA offers three unique over-the-phone interpreting packages to meet various client requirements.
Their OPI service is charged only by the amount of minutes used, with a small monthly minimum, and doesn't start the clock until after you've identified what language you need and the interpreter is connected.
The average connect time for popular languages like Spanish and Chinese is less than 20 seconds, with a guarantee that all calls will be connected in under one minute.
If opening a monthly charge account isn't practical, ALTA's second package allows clients to connect with skilled interpreters during standard business hours, Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET, with a 24-hour notice required.
This package is ideal for those who need to communicate with a limited English speaker quickly, and may have been unaware of a language barrier.
Rush fees may apply for this package, so it's essential to plan ahead.
Once you've set up an account with ALTA, you'll have instant access to interpreters in hundreds of languages.
To set up an account or learn more about their on-demand interpreting services, you can call 404.920.3860 or email [email protected].
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Limitations and Considerations
Telephone interpreting, like any other form of communication, has its limitations and considerations. Technical issues can arise, such as no phone service or a call that cuts in and out, making the interpreting service unavailable.
However, it's worth noting that these issues are not unique to telephone interpreting and can occur with any phone call. In fact, the problem often lies with the other party's phone line, not the interpreting service itself.
The loss of body language and facial expressions is also a concern, but this is not a limitation specific to telephone interpreting. Any phone conversation, interpreted or not, will lack the nuance of gesture and facial expression. Our interpreters are native specialists in the languages they interpret, ensuring that the message is conveyed accurately despite the lack of visual cues.
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When is it allowed?
Telephone Interpreting is often used in countries like Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand by their governments.
It's also commonly used in the United States, particularly in courts and hospitals.
This service is useful in any telephone conversation between speakers of different languages.
Even individuals have been known to use it when traveling or communicating with someone they don't understand.
Potential Downsides

Technical issues can arise, such as no phone service or a call cutting in and out, which can prevent the interpreting service from being provided. However, this isn't necessarily a problem with the interpreting service itself, but rather with the phone line of one of the parties on the call.
Body language is not visible during telephone interpreting, which can be a drawback. This is actually a limitation of any phone conversation, not just interpreted ones.
In cases of technical issues, the problem is often with the phone line, not the interpreting service. This is because our interpreters use landlines, which are less prone to issues.
Our interpreters are native specialists in the languages they interpret, which helps to mitigate the loss of nuance in gesture and facial expression.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to become a phone interpreter?
To become a phone interpreter, you typically need a bachelor's degree in linguistics or a related field, along with relevant experience or skills in the desired sector, such as medical or technical terminology. Consider further education or training to develop the necessary skills and certifications for a successful career as a phone interpreter.
What is the telephone interpreting program?
The Telephone Interpreting Program (TIP) is a remote interpretation service for court proceedings. It connects courts with certified interpreters when local ones are not available.
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