“Rakuten Card Sign Language Interpreting Service” Launched

Tokyo, March 3, 2016 - Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. today announced that the company is collaborating with Plusvoice Co., Ltd. to launch the “Rakuten Card Sign Language Interpreting Service”, a new service utilizing video chat services on SNS and other platforms to respond to inquiries from Rakuten Card members with hearing or language disabilities.

The “Rakuten Card Sign Language Interpreting Service” is a service that utilizes video chat to enable Plusvoice’s operators to converse with card members using sign language or written messages, and interpret that content to Rakuten Card operators. Card members can connect to the service by registering their SNS or other accounts, making smooth and real-time communication with operators possible.

At Rakuten Card, up until now card members’ various inquiries have in principle been addressed via e-mail or Rakuten e-NAVI, the dedicated online service for Rakuten Card members. However, there some cases where the family or friends of card members have also made inquiries on their behalf, and this new service was born in response to requests to allow card members to communicate directly with operators. 

Going forward, Rakuten Card will continue to strive to enhance its services and features with the goal of improving customer satisfaction.

*Video chat services that are covered: Skype, LINE, FaceTime

Name: “Rakuten Card Sign Language Interpreting Service”
URL: https://www.rakuten-card.co.jp/contact/assist/index.html
Date of the launch of the service: March 3, 2016
Method of use:
1. Register the video chat service account (ID or email address).
2. The Rakuten Card member with a hearing or language disability connects to a Plusvoice operator via the account.      
3. The Plusvoice operator utilizes sign language or written communication to interpret the inquiry   from the card member to             a Rakuten Card operator.
Video chat services and registered accounts that are covered:
-　Skype-ID: rcard-pv
-　LINE- ID: rcard-pv
-　FaceTime e-mail address: rcard-pv@plusvoice.jp
Service charge: Free
* Telecommunications-related costs such as charges for using mobile phones or smartphones, or Internet connection       charges, will be borne by the Rakuten Card member.
Service hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (every day of the year)

About Plusvoice Co., Ltd.
Plusvoice Co., Ltd. was founded in 1997 as a result of mobile phones becoming equipped with an e-mail function. It operates services that utilize information communications technology to overcome communication barriers between hearing and hearing-impaired people in particular. The company aims to create a diverse society with remote sign language and written interpretation using video chat services and text chat as one of its pillars.
Additionally, accompanying the spread of smartphones in recent years, Plusvoice has been contributing to eliminating communication barriers by providing systems and applications geared toward hearing-impaired people.
URL: http://www.plusvoice.co.jp/