WALTHAM, Massachusetts, November 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. today announced that it will participate in Microsoft's Local Language Program (LLP) Africa Summit, November 16th to 18th, and serve as a strategic partner to help Microsoft bring its software and tools to emerging markets. With this collaboration, Lionbridge will provide localization services across 35 languages including the 10 languages targeted to Africa region. In doing so, Lionbridge is assisting Microsoft with its mission to bring the benefits of technology to people worldwide by providing software and tools in locally relevant languages that honor linguistic and cultural traditions.

To facilitate the program, Lionbridge will provide comprehensive localization services to Microsoft and its partners including program management, engineering and product testing. In addition, Lionbridge will deploy its unique Language Ambassador program to provide support to Microsoft partners and facilitate access to its advanced language technology to ensure linguistic quality and consistency.

With our Local Language Program and our Unlimited Potential Program, Microsoft is finding new ways to bridge the technical divide for emerging markets, create economic opportunities, develop customized IT solutions, and preserve local languages and cultures, said Anthony Salcito, Vice President Worldwide Public Sector Education, Microsoft. This ambitious initiative requires the expertise of partners like Lionbridge that have the scale, knowledge and technology to create and manage specific programs, tools and communication vehicles for our partners across diverse geographies.

Lionbridge will participate in Microsoft's upcoming Africa Summit which will bring together Microsoft product teams, members of government organizations, in-country partners and Microsoft's subsidiary program and citizenship managers. Lionbridge LLP team managers will speak at the event and host a number of training sessions for local Microsoft partners.

Emerging economies such as Africa are becoming the next computing frontier with strong demand for productivity and mobility technologies. Language plays a critical role in bringing sustainable technology adoption to these markets. We look forward to participating in Microsoft's Africa Summit and to assisting Microsoft with programs that increase community access to technology, said Rory Cowan, CEO, Lionbridge. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of emerging markets and look forward to helping Microsoft achieve its goals of bridging language, cultures and technology.

Details about Microsoft's Unlimited Potential Program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/default.mspx

About Lionbridge

Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. is a provider of translation, interpretation, development and testing services. Lionbridge combines global resources with proven program management methodologies to serve as an outsource partner throughout a client's product and content lifecycle - from development to translation, testing and maintenance. Global organizations rely on Lionbridge services to increase international market share, speed adoption of global products and content, and enhance their return on enterprise applications and IT system investments. Based in Waltham, Mass., Lionbridge maintains solution centers in 26 countries and provides services under the Lionbridge and VeriTest brands. To learn more, visit http://www.lionbridge.com

Lionbridge is a trademark of Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. in the US and throughout the world. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

CONTACT: Sara Buda Lionbridge Technologies +1-781-434-6190 sara.buda@lionbridge.com

SOURCE: Lionbridge Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Sara Buda, Lionbridge Technologies, +1-781-434-6190,sara.buda@lionbridge.com