Remember those five pip tone beeps you hear when you’re calling nationally on what were “STD” calls?

Well, from today onwards, many people will no longer hear them at all, with Telstra phasing them out.

Telstra calls this phase-out part of the transformation process that is turning Telstra into a “world leading media communications company”.

Quite why Telstra had to draw that bow into the pip tone farewell seemed unclear, on face value, aside from Telstra simply wanting to remind us all that it is transforming into a “world leading media communications company”, but there is a reason.

After all, removing the pip tones encourages people to talk for longer without remembering they are on a long distance call, which some people actually still pay more than 10c per call for.

But the technical reason why is because Telstra says it is committed “to removing antiquated systems” which do many things, including the generation of pip tones, thus making it an ever more modern company.

Telstra also notes (as you’ll see on page 2) that its “product exit and migration programs” are key pillars of this transformation process.

Pip tones were recently heard on “some” national STD calls and on “Iterra” satellite phone calls, and while some will immediately notice the pips are gone, some people will hear them up until the end of July, after which they should be completely phased out on a permanent basis.

So, what does Telstra specifically have to say about removing its own pips? Please pop on over to page 2 for the squeeze!

---

Michelle James, the Portfolio Director of Telstra’s “Product Management” Division said: “After more than 40 years, the STD Pip Tones heard at the start of Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) calls will be removed.

“Some people in the community have an emotional connection with Pip Tones, and will fondly remember them as the cue that they are receiving a call from interstate relatives or friends."

“Today, long distance calling is cheaper compared to the charges of over a quarter of a century ago. In 1980, STD calls could cost as much as 63c a minute, while today our customers can select plans that give them untimed long distance calls for 50c or can choose a plan where all STD calls are included in the monthly charge,” she said.

As noted on the previous page, Telstra says its “product exit and migration program is a key pillar in its company-wide Transformation program which is delivering wide ranging benefits to customers.”

Telstra’s Michelle James continued: “Like any house renovation, we’re taking out the ageing plumbing and wiring and replacing it with new, modern fixtures and fittings.

“STD Pip Tones are a legacy feature and will not be available in all our telephone exchanges as some of the newer technologies are not compatible with STD Pip Tones.

“The removal of STD Pip Tones will give fixed line users a consistent experience no matter where they are calling from when making long distance calls.”

And what more of this transformation process does Telstra share?

It notes that its “company-wide transformation” includes plans to “exit legacy products, systems and platforms and migrate customers to new, simpler, more robust technologies and infrastructure.”

Interestingly, we also learn that the transformation program “currently impacts over 2100 products, features and pricing plans and involves 145 projects.”

Given how much we’ve all heard of the transformation project throughout the entire Sol era, it’s good to know that “the program is progressing as planned and work will continue in this area until all projects are complete”, although if you can squeeze out a tear for the pip tones going pop, now is the time, as “STD Pip Tones will gradually be phased out exchange by exchange by early July 2009.”