| iLanguage chosen by Multilingual
Web Conference Company for localization of Web Meeting Application and Web site
in several languages About The Client
A leader in real-time communications infrastructure for Web
meetings, the client's services enable end-users to simultaneously
share content and applications in a seamless, integrated vocal and audiovisual
environment.
The Challenge
The Customer wanted to develop a localized Web Meeting service for
its international target markets. The Web conferencing service would allow each
participant at a meeting to select a particular language preference. The
company started its localization endeavor for the Japanese market in 1999 and
initially tried using a number of freelance translators for the project.
However, after completing an analysis of the internal cost, the complexity of
managing numerous virtual translators, and possible compromises in
quality, they turned to iLanguage, with its in-house translation
teams, experience in Web/software localization and resources to handle
additional languages - Korean, French, German and Swedish. It involved numerous
graphical menus, application file formats including C++, HTML, Java, source
codes and DTP work. The content was extracted from the applications by the
customer's engineers and turned over to iLanguage localization experts
under Resource Files, mostly Excel spreadsheets with content strings from the
application. The text often seemed awkward or out of context which made it
particularly challenging for the translators. iLanguage worked with the
company's development team to resolve initial technical issues and had
weekly progress meetings.
The Solution
The first step of the project was to train the translators to use the
software. Understanding the program would make it easier to translate its
content, technical terms had to be accurate and congruent with the context. To
ensure consistency, they created glossaries and used advanced Translation
Memory technology. A 3-step quality assurance process in took place for
Japanese,. iLanguage did the first QA test. The client tested context
accuracy within the program, and verified translations of links, buttons and
script files. Using translation memory technology, iLanguage implemented the
changes. The customer's strategic partners and clients in each
language market conducted the final QA and customer compliance test, as the
actual users/resellers of the program in their markets. The web conference
company turned back to iLanguage with the localization of an earlier
version of their software in Korean and a later version in all
languages.
iLanguage was chosen for the complete translation of the Web page content,
online help, localization of graphics and resource files, DTP localization of
collateral documents and forms, and voiceover development of Training Modules.
Online help and DTP
The online help file is a very important piece being where most users post
their questions and search for quick solutions for any difficulties the program
causes. In-house translators were able to re-use the Translation Memory and the
glossaries to quickly localize the help files. The DTP files were localized and
translated into German, Korean, Japanese and Swedish utilizing Adobe Frame
Maker.
Voice Over Localization
Voiceover modules had to be developed from English into French, Japanese and
German. These tutorials files teach users how the software works. Six modules
were translated in each of the three languages. The first step was to translate
and record the audio and video. They were mixed and prepared to use exclusively
with special software from the client. The recording and mixing processe
of the voiceovers was done at iLanguage state of the art recording studio,
utilizing complex computer aided audiovisual equipment. iLanguage successfully
resolved any technical challenges and a thorough testing was done before
releasing the final version.
The Result
With the release of the first version of the their software, the
client became the first Web conferencing service to support multiple
languages in a single meeting center. The project was delivered on time thanks
to the hard work of the translation and production teams at iLanguage, working
closely with the customer. The translation quality was remarkable and enabled
the client to reduce cost while expediting time-to-market.
"By allowing users to work in multiple languages, we can greatly leverage our
service and significantly widen our base of potential customers," said the
company's chairman and CEO. "iLanguage has done an outstanding job. Our
communications network services are just as elegant and easy to use for our
Japanese or Korean customers as they are for our English, German, Swedish or
French customers."
The company's clients and strategic partners were equally impressed and
satisfied with the multilingual features the program offered. iLanguage
provides localization maintenance for all newly updated versions while
preparing for the translation.
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Multilingual Web
Conference Company