Language Line Services Chosen as Exclusive Interpretation Provider for AT&T U-Verse and All of AT&T's Telecommunication Services
MONTEREY, Calif., Nov. 17, 2009 — To better serve its multilingual customers, AT&T has chosen leading interpretation and translation company Language Line Services as the exclusive provider of language assistance for U-Verse and all other AT&T telecommunication consumers. In addition to this new agreement with AT&T's U-verse division, Language Line Services' existing partnership to provide over-the-phone interpretation services to the company's West Coast customer service and sales centers has recently expanded to include AT&T's Southwest and Midwest customer service and sales departments.
"Nearly 23 million people in this country are considered to have limited English proficiency, a segment of the population that often feels neglected and underserved due to language barriers," said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services President and COO. "AT&T has shown their commitment to diversity by engaging consumers at every level of the customer experience, regardless of the language they speak, and we are honored that they have chosen Language Line Services as the interpretation provider to assist them in continuing to expand this endeavor."
To accomplish their diversity goals, AT&T has created an aggressive communications program with Language Line Services. Using Language Line Services' over-the-phone interpretation services, U-verse and other AT&T customers with limited English proficiency (LEP) can communicate and resolve any service issues in their own languages. Additionally, through the Language Line Services partnership, AT&T's West Coast, Southwest and Midwest sales centers are able to field calls from new customers in more than 170 languages. AT&T also recently opened a new call center in New York City to service its growing number of Russian and Polish speaking customers.
Language Line Services and AT&T have worked closely in the past to develop and implement innovative language access programs for consumers and businesses alike. Most notably, in 2006 the two partnered to launch Your World. Your Language.(SM), the first free phone service that connects LEP consumers to banking, insurance, telephone, Internet, utility and other vital business services in their native languages within their local Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA). Created by Language Line Services and using a network powered by AT&T, Your World. Your Language. was recently made available nationwide.
"Our partnership with Language Line Services enables us to provide the best possible service to our limited English speaking customers," said Jody Garcia, Vice President of Consumer Sales and Services for AT&T. "Language Line Services leads the interpretation industry in new technology and innovative offerings, and will be able to meet our language access needs well into the future."
About Language Line Services
Language Line Services, the global leader in telephone interpreting and language solutions, serves clients in government, health care, telecom, financial services, insurance and many other industries by quickly connecting them to their customers, patients and sales prospects in over 170 spoken languages as well as American sign language and Mexican Sign Language. Growth of the language interpreting industry has soared with increased immigration and government regulatory policies mandating that organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages. Language Line Services is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of clients throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, providing access to the industry's fastest language interpreting service at highly competitive rates. For more information about Language Line Services' suite of telephone and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, interpreter training and certification programs, please call +1 (800) 752-6096 or visit http://www.languageline.com.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates — AT&T operating companies — are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
Media Contacts:
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