NEED TO KNOW
In China, a translator is a call away
Visiting China, but your Mandarin is, frankly, flawed? No problem. Just dial up an interpreter. At least two new companies offer over-the-phone interpretation services with live operators. You speak with them in English, then hand over the phone and they explain your needs to Chinese-speaking locals.
Beijing-based chinaONEcall offers packages starting at $79 for 60 minutes of talk time; (877) 660-2838, www.chinaonecall.com. Boston-based Fone-In Inc., which handles dozens of languages besides English and Chinese, charges $57.99 for a one-year membership plus $2.23 per minute; (877) 988-3556, www.fone-in.com. With both companies, you must pay your regular phone charges on top of these fees.
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