News

U.S Email restricted by language

The US and Canada have 272 million active email accounts, but their potential for improving business communication is being limited by language barriers.

A recent Message Online study reported that the number of email accounts increased from 310 million mailboxes on January 1 1999, to 435 million by the end of September 1999.

Almost two-thirds of these mailboxes are in the US and Canada, with email accounts accessible through Cell phones, video games and even cable television.

The increase in email use, particularly in business, is related to the inexpensive nature of email communication, according to The Yankee Group.

The Boston based research firm estimated that the email is almost two-thirds less expensive than direct mail in initiating business translations.

Email will continue to replace traditional snail mail in marketing efforts, according to Forrester Research's Jim Nail.

"By 2003 the number of marketing emails will equal the volume of direct mail forwarded by the US Postal Service, and by 2004 the average household will receive nine pieces of marketing email per day," Mr. Nail said.

"To remain prominent in what will become a sea of email, marketers are going to need the right people, partners, and structure in place to build successful customer relationships."

An International Data Corp report highlights that successful customer relations could depend on multilingual communication.

The Report said, "By 2003 one-third of all Internet users will prefer to use a language other than English".

"The Fastest growth in Internet use is in Asia, where the number of people using the Internet will grow from 20 million now, up to 75 million by 2003."

WorldLingo is a translation company that has created an innovative email system that will help English speaking businesses communicate with the emerging Asian and European online markets.

Phil Scanlan, WorldLingo's Chairman, said multilingual email capabilities will be essential if profits are to be made through email marketing.

"We provide businesses with an email system that will allow them to send messages in a foreign customer's language, as well as receiving the reply in their own lingo," Mr. Scanlan said.

"Our system can be integrated with an API, or it can be used on a need by need basis."

Mr. Scanlan said the email translation system is vital for Websites that have been localized.

"Many businesses think that once they have localized their site into multiple languages, they just have to sit back and watch the orders and revenue flow in from all corners of the globe.

"This is not the case, as they also need a communication system that can translate the messages."

According to a two-year Forrester Research investigation, 75 percent of US Websites (1999) were unable to complete order requests.

The lack of translation capabilities was a major cause of this, with aspects such as registering International addresses not in the businesses capabilities.

If the US is to take advantage of Ecommerce opportunities, translation capable email is vital.

The urgency of this need is well represented by a NUA finding.

"Sixty-percent of the world online population and 50% of Internet sales will be made outside the US by 2003."

Email Translation is a good tool to ensure American businesses take advantage of the World Wide Web.

-ends-

About WorldLingo

WorldLingo is a leading provider of integrated, online translation solutions. The company's services range from cost effective machine translation solutions, to professional human translation and culturally sensitive localization. A global network of over 5,000 professional translators produces human translations. WorldLingo also offers unique, real-time translation solutions for two-way email and instant messaging. These solutions make it easy for businesses and professionals to interact with internal and external multilingual audiences anywhere in the world. By combining accurate and cost effective translation, WorldLingo is taking great strides towards breaking down language barriers in the world of commerce.

WorldLingo produces thousands of translations every day. Clients include AT&T, Sony, Eli Lilly, Belkin, Cadbury Schweppes, Qualcomm, Priceline, and Tribal DDB. WorldLingo is also an official supplier of translation services to the European Union. In addition, Microsoft has integrated WorldLingo's technology into Office XP and Word 2002. WorldLingo is a global organisation with offices in the US, Australasia and Europe.

For more information: contact WorldLingo