MONTEREY, Calif. (Map) - MONTEREY, Calif., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A growing number of limited English speakers, as well as tourists and foreign business travelers, will now find it easier than ever to communicate with consumers and businesses thanks to Your World. Your Language.(SM) , which launched today in San Antonio, Texas.

Created by Language Line Services and using a network powered by AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Your World. Your Language.(SM) connects limited English speakers with specially trained interpreters who facilitate communication between the consumer and the business' English-speaking customer representative.

In addition to San Antonio, Your World. Your Language.(SM) service is available in other Texas cities including Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston.

The first-of-its-kind, free over-the-phone interpretation service is also available to limited English speakers of Cantonese (Chinese), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese), Polish, Russian, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Spanish language assistance is available by calling 1-877-TU-LINEA. Other language services are available at 1-888-855-0811.

"With Your World. Your Language.(SM) interpreters on the line, San Antonio residents can now receive help in their own language to find the service that meets their specific needs," said Laura Hernandez, AT&T executive director of multicultural marketing. "Our vision at AT&T is to connect people to their world, everywhere they live and work, and to do it better than anyone else. That is why we're proud to partner with Language Line to help introduce this revolutionary way of doing business."

Your World. Your Language.(SM) allows limited English speakers to access a host of key commercial, retail and entertainment businesses anytime and at no charge.

"At The League of United Latin American Citizens, we are committed to making sure that we bring all communities together. With Your World, Your Language, we are knocking down language barriers and uniting the community in a way that has never been done before," said Rosa Rosales, national president of LULAC.

"Applying for business financing can be challenging for someone speaking in their first language, so it's easy to see how this process could be intimidating for a new immigrant hoping to capitalize on the American dream of business ownership," said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services' president and chief operating officer.

Mr. Provenzano also noted that San Antonio has many densely populated immigrant neighborhoods where Spanish is the dominant language. As a result, these consumers have difficulty conducting business outside their neighborhoods and accessing vital community services without the assistance of English-speaking friends and family members.

GROWING LANGUAGE-SUPPORT NEEDS -- 46.7 - Percent of San Antonio residents who speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census) -- 15 - Percent of the total U.S. buying power owned by the Hispanic and Asian population -- 176 - Total number of languages spoken in the U.S. -- 75 - Percent of limited English speakers who prefer to speak in their native language (In-Language Preference Census)

About Language Line Services (LLS)

Language Line Services, the world's leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers. The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning phone and video interpretation, document translation, interactive software-based translation, and interpreter training and certification programs, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language. Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services delivers support for over 170 unique languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including healthcare, financial services, government, telecom, packaged goods, insurance services, travel, and more. For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, please call 1-800-752-6096 or visit http://www.LanguageLine.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) 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. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. 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.