SDL International®, a leading provider of globalization products and services, today launched SDLX Elite Computer Aided Translation solution with freely downloadable edit module, SDLX Lite. SDLX Elite provides translation agencies and corporate localization departments with a centralized Translation Memory solution that includes unlimited remote freelance translator clients. Freelance translators can leverage and contribute to a master Translation Memory database, thereby maximizing their productivity and continually increasing the effectiveness and value of the Translation Memory. SDLX Elite will enable agencies and companies to immediately add specialist freelancers, whether or not the translators own compatible Translation Memory tools, at no extra cost to the freelancer or the organization.

 
Until now, organizations that leveraged Translation Memory could only partner with translators that had the same translation tool. With SDLX Elite, translation agencies and corporations can partner with any translator. Utilizing the downloadable SDLX Lite, translators can edit SDLX files without purchasing SDLX. A translator simply translates any un-translated text and returns the completed files for updating into SDLX Elite. The ability to partner with any translator allows organizations to select experts in a specific area, significantly increasing the speed, quality and consistency of translations.

SDLX Elite Translation Memory increases translation quality and efficiency by breaking down sentences and paragraphs into translatable segments and extracting previously translated terms and phrases from a database for re-use. The re-use of previous translations typically saves up to 40 percent of translation volume over time, and leads to as much as 40 percent savings in cost.

"Freelance translators are the backbone of the translation industry, and their expertise is critical to every global corporation. However, few freelance translators can afford to purchase a Translation Memory product, making it impossible for a global leader to leverage their industry and translation expertise," stated Mark Lancaster, chairman and CEO at SDL International. "With SDLX Elite, SDL International is breaking down the barrier to technology for every translator around the globe and creating an equal playing field. With the demand for globalization services on the rise, it is critical to the industry's continued success and growth that every freelance translator have access to technology."

About SDLX Elite

SDLX Elite is an innovative, user-friendly Computer Aided Translation tool that enables translators, localization agencies and major global corporations to produce SDLX formatted ITD files. Any translator can download SDLX Lite, an "Edit" only module that works within an SDLX Translation Memory environment. These ITD files can be quickly and easily processed and translated using the edit capabilities of SDLX Lite.

From any workstation, SDLX Elite users can quickly begin translating, using the suite of tools for alignment, editing, analysis, etc. without the need to open separate applications during the translation process. SDLX also provides Wizards for common tasks, such as project import and export, file analysis and document translation.

SDLX was one of the pioneers for the now industry standard Translation Memory eXchange (TMX) format as well as OpenTag, an XML based standard for text exchange. The product also enables translators to supply their clients with legacy formats such as RTF and TRADOS compatible translation memories without loss of format.

Fully compatible with Windows 2000, Office 2000 and XML/SGML, SDLX will support any language including double-byte and bi-directional languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and Arabic.

Pricing, Availability and System Requirements

SDLX Elite with SDLX Lite is priced at US$2,000.00 and will be available September 2001. SDLX Elite runs on any Windows® 32 bit operating system.