Optus axed four Living Network features this month

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 26 August 2024

Optus discontinued four Living Network features this month, removing Call Notes, Call Translate, Call Effects, and Game Path from the range.

Living Network is Optus' umbrella term for its unique features designed to enhance the telco experience and is a core point of difference for the brand. Speaking at an event in June last year, former CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin pointed to the Living Network as a move away from competing on dollars and gigabytes with the goal of creating a more engaged customer base.

Call Notes, Call Translate, and Call Effects were all what Optus called Advanced Calling Features. Call Notes provided a transcript of a call after the fact, Call Translate offered real-time translation, and Call Effects was more of a "for fun" feature that enabled things like coin flips.

Optus was charging $5 per month for Call Translate and was planning to do the same for Call Notes.

Notably, similar features have been showing up in phones. Samsung's Galaxy AI includes real-time translation on phone calls, while Apple is adding call transcription in iOS 18.

Game Path is the odd feature out, and was designed to improve connectivity for gamers. It was billed at $10 per month.

An Optus spokesperson told WhistleOut the telco decided to shutter the features based on usage.

"Optus continually evaluates our products to ensure we are best aligned to meet our customers’ needs," said the spokesperson. "Based on customer uptake, we made the decision to shut down some of our network features [...], including Call Translate, Call Effects, Call Notes and Game Path."

"The simplification of our features means that we can continue to invest in those that enhance our customers’ experience."

There will be no changes to other Living Network features such as Pause, Unlimited Data Day, or Turbocharge. The Optus website now however refers to these as "network features", rather than using the Living Network branding.

In an interview with WhistleOut last year, Optus' Managing Director for Marketing and Revenue Matt Williams compared the strategy to the launch of the first iPhone in terms of the "philosophical approach".

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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