Question 1

What are Infoports called around the world?

Accepted Answer

In Poland tour guide systems are called Infoports. Around the world they are known by formal and slang names, including Infoport, Bidule, tour guide system, whisper system, Personensprechanlage, radioguida and radioguía.

Question 2

What does Bidule mean?

Accepted Answer

Bidule is French interpreter slang used in France, French-speaking Belgium and Swiss Romandy, and among international conference interpreters. More professional French alternatives are valisette d’interprétation and valise de visite guidée.

Question 3

What is the English name for Infoports?

Accepted Answer

The default English product name is tour guide system or tourguide. In the UK, Ireland, the US, Australia and English-language RFPs they are also called whisper system or whisper tour guide.

Question 4

What is the German name for this equipment?

Accepted Answer

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland the standard technical terms are Personensprechanlage and Personenführungsanlage (PFA).

Question 5

What are Infoports called in Spanish and Italian?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish they are called Infoport, sistema de visita guiada, audioguía de grupo or radioguía. In Italian rental houses and museums use sistema radioguida or radioguida.

Question 6

What is chuchotage equipment?

Accepted Answer

Chuchotage is French for whispered interpreting. Chuchotage equipment is the portable kit used in international interpreting, including EU institutions and UN-style work, when booths are impossible.

Name	Where it is used	Language / circle

Infoport	Spain, Latin America (some agencies), Poland, Central Europe	Spanish sistema Infoport; Polish infoporty. Common with rental houses and event organizers.
Bidule	France, French-speaking Belgium, Swiss Romandy; also among international conference interpreters	French interpreter slang. Belgian associations have tried to replace it with valisette d’interprétation / infoport.
Valisette d’interprétation / valise de visite guidée	France, Belgium	More “professional” French alternatives to bidule.
Tour guide system / tourguide	UK, Ireland, US, Australia, international English RFPs	Default English product name.
Whisper system / whisper tour guide	US, UK, tourism industry English	From “speak at a whisper”; also sold as Whisper as a brand in US tour training.
Chuchotage equipment	International interpreting (EU institutions, UN-style work)	French chuchotage = whispered interpreting; equipment is the portable kit when booths are impossible.
Personensprechanlage / Personenführungsanlage (PFA)	Germany, Austria, Switzerland	Standard German technical term.
Sistema de visita guiada / audioguía de grupo	Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile	Everyday Spanish when “Infoport” is not used.
Sistema radioguida / radioguida	Italy	Italian rental and museum language.
Système de visite guidée / audiophone	France	Consumer/tourism French (museums, châteaux), alongside bidule.
Radio guide / radioguía	Spain, Latin America, some UK operators	Marketing name for the same radio kits.

Infoports have different names around the world

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