Meta pauses rate limits for smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature
Meta has paused the rate limits on its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature after user feedback. The feature remains free for now as the company seeks a better approach.
Meta has announced it is pausing the rate limits on its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature, as first reported by The Verge. The company is suspending its subscription tests for the accessibility feature, which uses the glasses' speakers to amplify the voice of the person you are talking to.
Last month, Meta quietly added rate limits: the feature was free to use until exceeding three hours per month, after which users would need to pay $20 per month for a Meta One Premium plan, which still capped usage at 15 hours per month.
Meta spokesperson Tyler Yee told The Verge, 'we heard the feedback so we're pausing its subscription tests for now.' He added that 'Conversation Focus will remain available for free through our Early Access Program for early testers while we work on a better approach.'
It remains unclear why Meta originally added rate limits, as The Verge demonstrated the feature runs on-device and without an internet connection. Yee said Meta wants 'to make sure we get it right' and is 'still exploring all our options for the best approach.' He added that 'some premium features will be subscription-based over time,' attributing this to how charging helps sustain Meta's strategy of subsidizing hardware prices.
