specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
provider: IBM Language Translator
providerId: ibm-translate
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Translation
  - IBM Watson
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
  - Deprecated
description: >-
  FOCUS-aligned FinOps profile for IBM Watson Language Translator. The service used a
  character-based consumption billing model under Standard plan, with a 1M character/month
  free Lite tier. The service was deprecated June 2023 and withdrawn December 2024, so
  FinOps guidance is primarily relevant for historical cost analysis and migration planning.
notes: >-
  Customers migrating from IBM Language Translator should map character-based spend to
  equivalent character or token costs in replacement services such as IBM watsonx or
  third-party NMT providers.
sources:
  - https://cloud.ibm.com/catalog/services/language-translator
  - https://www.ibm.com/cloud/watson-language-translator/pricing
  - https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
publisherName: IBM
serviceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Usage Based
  billingFrequency: Monthly
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Usage
    - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Watson Language Translator
  ServiceCategory: AI and Machine Learning
  ProviderName: IBM
  PublisherName: IBM
  InvoiceIssuerName: IBM
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Usage
meters:
  - name: translated_characters
    description: Number of characters translated via the API per month.
    unit: characters
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions: [plan, instance, region]
  - name: custom_model_maintenance
    description: Number of custom translation models hosted per month.
    unit: models
    aggregation: count
    dimensions: [instance, region]
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: >-
      Monitor character consumption via IBM Cloud usage dashboard. Set usage alerts
      to detect unexpected spikes in translation volume.
  - name: Allocation
    description: >-
      Use separate service instances per application or team to attribute translation
      costs accurately. Tag instances with cost-center metadata.
  - name: Optimization
    description: >-
      Cache translated strings for repeated content. Batch short texts into single
      API requests up to the 50,000 character limit. Delete unused custom models to
      eliminate the $15/month maintenance fee per model.
  - name: Accountability
    description: >-
      Given the service deprecation in December 2024, perform historical cost
      reconciliation and map ongoing translation spend to the replacement service.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com