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Interpretation Services

Phone interpreting, any language, any hour

Connect with a carefully screened, professional interpreter over the phone whenever you need one. Focus Interpreting's telephone interpreters are available 24/7 in over 120 languages.

Antique black wall telephone with a hanging handset on a pale grey wall

Why Focus

Phone Interpreting, done right

A professional interpreter on the line, 24/7, in 120+ languages

  • Available 24/7

    Interpreters on call around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays, for the moments that cannot wait.

  • Fast connections

    Common languages connect in moments; less common languages take a little longer while we locate the right interpreter.

  • Screened and HIPAA-trained

    Every phone interpreter is carefully screened, well trained, and bound by strict confidentiality.

  • Cost-effective

    No travel and no waiting for an interpreter to arrive, at competitive rates with no hidden fees. Request a quote for current terms.

  • 120+ languages

    From Spanish and Mandarin to languages of limited diffusion, with interpreters who understand the culture behind the words.

Old payphone set into a graffiti-covered wall behind a chain-link fence
Overview
01
How phone interpreting can help you

Overview

How phone interpreting can help you

Telephone interpreting began in Australia in the 1970s as a free service for growing immigrant communities. Today it is used worldwide in healthcare, government, finance, customer service, and emergency calls, and it is widely relied on by courts in the United States to make sure speakers of every language can be heard.

When two people need to talk but do not share a language, a professional telephone interpreter from Focus Interpreting joins the call. Your interpreter waits for you to finish a sentence or thought and then interprets the entire phrase, so both you and the other party can break through the language barrier and understand each other clearly.

Focus Interpreting's telephone interpreters are trained to help people connect with speakers from all walks of life in over 120 languages, whether the conversation is personal, clinical, legal, or commercial.

Row of three wall-mounted payphones on a dark tiled wall, black and white
Section 02
02
Benefits of an over-the-phone interpreter

Benefits of an over-the-phone interpreter

Every professional phone interpreter from Focus Interpreting is carefully screened and well trained to ensure reliable and accurate interpreting. They have an excellent understanding of the context and culture that surrounds a language, because not every word means exactly the same thing once translated. A culturally sensitive interpreter keeps both parties on the same page and prevents costly miscommunication.

Good communication with your customers gives you an advantage over the competition. Customers feel valued when their concerns are addressed in their own language, even after the sale. Companies that use phone interpreters can resolve complaints, negotiate without friction, and settle urgent issues with international clients on the spot.

We serve healthcare, technology, education, entertainment, gaming, legal, and government clients, and the same interpreters support one-off calls and high-volume contact centers alike.

  • Native-level proficiency in English and the target language
  • Excellent listening, memory, and note-taking skills
  • Cultural sensitivity and composure in unexpected situations
  • Strict confidentiality and impartiality
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Section 03
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How phone interpreting works

How phone interpreting works

Phone interpreting is available two ways. For scheduled calls, we book an interpreter in advance and connect all parties at the agreed time. For on-demand needs, call our office around the clock, tell us the language, and we will connect you to an interpreter. Connection times are typically a matter of moments for widely spoken languages and somewhat longer for rare languages while we locate the right professional.

Once connected, you can use a speakerphone or dual-handset phone when the other party is in the room with you, or bring the interpreter into a call with a party at another location. The interpreter introduces their role, interprets everything said in the first person, and stays on the line until you end the call.

Before the call, tell the interpreter the setting and purpose, speak in short segments, and pause for interpretation. For medical or legal calls, have any reference numbers or forms ready so the interpreter can relay them accurately.

Man in a knit cap talking on a phone at sunset with warm lens flare
Section 04
04
When phone interpreting is the right choice

When phone interpreting is the right choice

Phone interpreting is ideal when speed matters more than physical presence. It is highly advisable for emergencies where immediate assistance is needed, for conversations where one party will disclose sensitive information and would prefer the interpreter not be physically present, and for situations where traveling to meet face-to-face is not possible because of cost or time.

For lengthy, complex, or emotionally charged conversations, for group settings, or when visual cues and documents are central, an on-site interpreter or video remote interpreting is usually the better fit. Our coordinators can help you decide, and you can combine services as your needs change.

How it works

A simple, reliable process

  1. 01

    Schedule or call

    Book a scheduled call with the language, date, and time, or call our office when you need an interpreter right away.

  2. 02

    Connect

    Tell us the language and be connected to a screened interpreter, usually within moments for widely spoken languages.

  3. 03

    Communicate

    Speak naturally in short segments while the interpreter renders each phrase accurately in the first person.

  4. 04

    Wrap up

    End the call when you are done. Charges typically reflect the time used, with no hidden fees.

Use cases

Who relies on our phone interpreting services

  • Patient scheduling, triage, nurse advice lines, and telehealth follow-ups
  • Attorney intake calls and insurance claim interviews
  • Customer service, sales, and collections calls
  • Government benefit and eligibility interviews
  • Emergency and after-hours situations
  • International business calls and vendor negotiations

FAQ

Questions, answered

Straight answers on booking, certification, turnaround, and pricing.

Still have a question?

Call (800) 374-5444

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Let's talk

What are you waiting for?

Tell us about your project and a coordinator will reply within one business hour with a free, no-obligation quote.

Request a Free Quote
Call 800-374-5444

Interpreter-owned since 2010 · 120+ languages · 24/7 rush service