Software localization refers to a process whereby software or hardware created for a specific region or language is adapted for a different region or language through the addition of locale-specific components and the translation of text. As a complex process involving many steps and relying on very specific skills, localization (or L10n, as it is also known) is much more than translation; the expertise required to carry out a L10n project includes familiarity with linguistic and writing conventions, knowledge of the target culture, fluency with numerous text formats, proficiency in the use of tags and symbols and an in-depth knowledge of the entire L10n cycle.
From the localization of resources, that need to be rendered in a way that is efficient and unreservedly clear, to Help files, documentation, license agreements and readme files, the task of localizing a software application package, whatever its function, is a very complex process that, in addition to the translation aspect, addresses important, non-textual components of products or services such as adaptation of graphics, adoption of local currencies, use of the correct forms for dates, addresses, and phone numbers, and many other details.
For well over 10 years we have been providing Italian localization services to larger multivendor agencies as well as end clients, and during this time we have continued to keep abreast of the constant changes in the increasingly diversified localization market. Here is a list of our end clients:
Software: Trend Micro Danware Data Business Objects (now SAP) NVIDIA Pinnacle Systems (part of Avid Technology Inc.) Sabre Travel Network Sun Microsystems Adobe Ariba Lavasoft MapInfo (now Pitney Bowes) Corel Cowon Qurb Phoenix Technologies Sonic SAP Data Becker Salesforce.com Oracle EMC Corporation Webroot Software VeriSign SuccessFactors McAfee IBM Frictionless Commerce (now SAP) Premiere Global Services Flowserve Corporation Radvision Geodesic Rockliffe Chordiant Bridge360 Uniblue Accenture Microsoft Interwoven PDF Complete Fortify Cognos (now part of IBM) Canonical OfficeGemini |
Hardware: APC Hewlett-Packard Hitachi Data Systems Intel 3Dconnexion, a Logitech company Lenovo Toshiba AMD-ATI x-rite Dell NetApp Seagate Technology |