Back in April you might recall the announcement from Telstra that they would be shutting down their iconic Talking Clock service later in the year. It is with the deepest regret that we inform you that “later in the year” is “today,” and thus at the stroke of midnight tonight the talking clock service will fall silent, ending a millisecond-precise service that’s been operating consistently for some 66 years.
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September 30th marks the final day of operation for George, with the 1194 number to be discontinued at the stroke of midnight on October 1st.
The service was originally scheduled to disappear on July 30th, but Telstra officials gave it a three-month extension in order for consumers to “find an alternative solution” to the Talking Clock.
At the time of the original shutdown announcement, Telstra officials stated that removing the service was like “any time you upgrade to radically new technology,” in that “sometimes older services wouldn’t work.”
“[It’s like] with software, if you’re trying to use Microsoft Word 95 with the latest operating system, Windows 10. Or with iPhone 3, you won’t see those products working with the latest iPhone software. It’s not compatible.”
Ironically enough, the service was still attracting around 2 million calls per year, according to its operating company Informatel.
Shutting the clock down mere days before Daylight Savings kicks in is also a bold call, given that’s traditionally when the service received its highest volume of calls.
RIP Talking Clock. Third stroking its way up to the pearly gates of tech heaven.
