Over the Phone Interpreting Services (OPI)

Yes. In addition to video sessions, Jeenie fully supports audio-only interpreting (OPI) for situations where a phone call is preferable. You can use Jeenie’s mobile app or web platform to initiate an audio call with an interpreter, or even use a regular telephone with Jeenie’s TeleJeenie feature. You indicate the language you need, and Jeenie connects you to a qualified interpreter who facilitates the conversation verbally. The key difference is you’re still getting the benefits of Jeenie’s direct model – fast connection and a large language selection – even though it’s audio-only.  Notably, Jeenie’s system eliminates the old-fashioned hassles often associated with phone interpreting: there are no long phone menus, access codes, or operators needed to get an interpreter on the line. You simply tap to call (or dial a number if using a landline through TeleJeenie), and you’ll be speaking with your interpreter in seconds.

Traditional over-the-phone interpretation services (like those from legacy providers) often involve dialing a generic call center, entering account numbers or language codes, and waiting on hold for an operator to connect you. Jeenie modernizes this process. With Jeenie’s OPI, there are no operators required – you connect directly to an interpreter through the app with one touch. This direct approach reduces connection times (to 8 seconds or less) and simplifies the user experience. Another difference is the flexibility; Jeenie’s phone interpreting can be accessed via smartphone app or via a plain telephone line (through the TeleJeenie feature), whereas some services might require special dual-handset phones or complex setups for three-way calling. Essentially, Jeenie brings the ease of app-based on-demand service to phone interpreting, making it as easy as calling a friend. This means faster service and less frustration compared to many traditional phone interpretation setups.

Yes, you can. Jeenie offers a feature called TeleJeenie that allows organizations to use any standard telephone (landline or desk phone) to reach an interpreter. TeleJeenie provides a dedicated phone number that you dial to connect to Jeenie’s network. Once dialed, you’ll be prompted to select the language you need, and then you’ll be linked to a live interpreter within seconds – all through a normal phone. There’s no need for internet or the smartphone app in this case. This is incredibly useful for settings like hospitals, front desks, call centers, or field offices where staff may only have a landline phone available. TeleJeenie essentially turns any phone into an instant multilingual communication line. The setup is straightforward (Jeenie will provide your organization with the access number and any instructions), and no special hardware or new phone systems are required to enable this. You can maintain your existing phone equipment and still get on-demand interpreters by dialing the TeleJeenie number.

Through the Jeenie app or platform, the full range of hundreds of languages is available for audio calls, just as it is for video. If you’re using the TeleJeenie landline dial-in, the system offers on-demand access to a robust list of 100+ languages instantly via phone. Those 100+ languages cover all the most commonly needed languages (Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, etc.) and many additional ones. In practice, this covers the vast majority of phone interpreter requests. For less common languages or dialects that might not be in the 100 instant-dial list, organizations can still reach them by using the Jeenie mobile/web app, which taps into the broader pool. Jeenie’s philosophy is to never let language availability be a barrier – even if it’s an unusual language, we have mechanisms (and a network of interpreters) to support it. So, whether by app or by TeleJeenie phone line, you can get virtually any language you need over the phone.

There are several scenarios where phone (audio-only) interpreting might be preferable or necessary. For one, if the setting is not conducive to video – say, the internet connection is poor – a phone interpreter can still bridge the language gap reliably. Phone interpreting is also handy for quick, routine calls (like a brief update call to a client or a short question). In some cases, the person in need of interpretation may only have access to a telephone (for example, an elderly patient at home without a smartphone, or a client calling from a basic cellphone). Jeenie’s phone service ensures that even those individuals can be reached in their own language. Additionally, certain call centers or helplines integrate easily with phone-based interpreting. Essentially, Jeenie gives you the choice of mode: if video adds value (e.g., for ASL or visual context), you can use VRI; if circumstances call for a standard phone call, OPI is right there. The important thing is that both methods connect to the same high-quality interpreter pool and both are on-demand. Jeenie lets you and your clients communicate in whatever way is most practical at the moment.