Norwegian smart home company Futurehome, having recently filed for bankruptcy, has sparked outrage by implementing a subscription-only model for its Smarthub II and other devices. This means customers who previously purchased the hardware with the expectation of lifetime functionality are now required to pay an annual fee to maintain essential features. This sudden shift has essentially turned their smart homes into significantly less smart ones unless they subscribe.
Launched in 2016, Futurehome's Smarthub acts as a central control point for internet-connected devices. Initially, the company sold its products, including smart thermostats, lighting, and alarms, for a one-time fee, granting access to its app and cloud platform. However, as of June 26th, these core features now require a subscription costing 1,188 NOK (approximately $116.56) per year. Failure to subscribe results in a loss of control over devices, configuration options, automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services, as well as access to customer support.
Futurehome claims this decision was necessary due to its bankruptcy. The platform and services were acquired from the bankruptcy estate by FHSD Connect AS, a company owned jointly by former Futurehome owners and Sikom Connect. The subscription model, according to Futurehome, is intended to secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support, ultimately delivering "better functionality, more security, and higher value" to existing customers. However, many users are understandably frustrated, particularly those concerned about the company potentially disabling the ability to connect to local devices instead of relying on the cloud.
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