Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

2026-04-10T15:44:27Z

AdrianJagielak: AdrianJagielak moved page Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party CAN bus devices to Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Tesla
|StartDate=2026-04-08
|EndDate=
|Status=Ongoing
|ProductLine=Tesla
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Forced Obsolescence
|Description=Tesla remotely revoked Full Self-Driving entitlements on vehicles in Europe and other markets after detecting third-party CAN bus devices, in some cases removing features that owners had paid for.
}}

In early April 2026, Tesla began remotely disabling Full Self-Driving (FSD) and other driver-assistance functionality on vehicles whose telemetry indicated the presence of a third-party accessory connected to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.<ref name="electrek">Lambert, Fred (9 Apr 2026). "Tesla cracks down on FSD hacking devices, remotely shuts down access". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2026/04/09/tesla-cracks-down-fsd-hack-devices-remotely-disables-access/</ref> The action was carried out as a server-side change to vehicle entitlements, did not require the affected car to install a software update, and was issued without prior warning.<ref name="drivetesla">"Tesla remotely disables FSD on unauthorized vehicles using third-party devices". Drive Tesla Canada. 9 Apr 2026. https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/tesla-remotely-disables-fsd-on-unauthorized-vehicles-using-third-party-devices/</ref> Reports were documented in the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Turkey, Japan and Australia. In a number of cases the revocation downgraded the vehicle's paid Full Self-Driving package to Enhanced Autopilot, removing not only the unofficially region unlocked FSD functionality but also Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, a feature that is officially sold, regulator-approved in the affected markets, and was included in the FSD package the owner had paid for.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernas |first=Bartosz |title=EU protection laws, are they worth anything? |url=https://x.com/bartosz/status/2042609538688278896}}</ref>

==Background==
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is sold by Tesla in many markets where it is not yet legally approved for use, including most of the European Union. EU approval is being pursued through the Dutch vehicle authority RDW under UN Regulation No. 171, with a decision anticipated for 2026 after several previous delays. Many European customers had paid for the FSD package (typically €6,000–€7,500 plus VAT) several years before the enforcement action, but were unable to use it pending approval.

In response to these delays, a gray market emerged for small hardware modules costing around €500 that plug into a Tesla's CAN bus and bypass the vehicle's regional software locks, enabling FSD (Supervised) in unsupported markets, if it was already paid for by the car owner.<ref name="electrek" />

==Incident==
Reports of remote revocations began surfacing on 8 April 2026.<ref name="carscoops">"They Rigged Tesla's FSD To Work Where It Wasn't Allowed. Tesla Just Found The Off Switch". Carscoops. 9 Apr 2026. https://www.carscoops.com/2026/04/tesla-fsd-jailbreak-crackdown/</ref> Affected owners reported receiving an in-vehicle notification reading ''"Your Autopilot package has returned to its original configuration,"'' and a separate message stating that ''"an unauthorized third-party device"'' had been detected and that some driver-assistance functions had been disabled "for safety reasons."<ref name="notatesla">"Tesla Disables FSD On 'Jailbroken' Cars Using Cheat Devices". Not a Tesla App. 9 Apr 2026. https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/3934/tesla-disables-fsd-on-jailbroken-cars-using-cheat-devices</ref>

In the European Union, owners reported losing access to features they had purchased, including Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, which remained otherwise on sale to other customers. The enforcement was applied to a number of vehicles that had not installed the most recent software version (2026.8.6), indicating the action was performed entirely server-side via Tesla's backend.<ref name="drivetesla" />

==Tesla's response==
Tesla has not issued a public statement specifically addressing the revocations. In direct communications with owners, the company has characterised third-party CAN bus devices as a cybersecurity threat and has stated that owners using such devices are "100% liable for any accident that occurs" and that Tesla reserves the right to refuse warranty repairs regardless of whether the device caused the damage. Tesla's notices to affected owners indicated that some features may be re-enabled in a future software update, without providing a timeline.<ref name="notatesla" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

2026-04-10T15:44:08Z

AdrianJagielak: AdrianJagielak moved page Tesla remote FSD revocation over third-party CAN bus devices to Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party CAN bus devices

Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

2026-04-10T15:43:54Z

AdrianJagielak: AdrianJagielak moved page Tesla disabling remotely paid for features to Tesla remote FSD revocation over third-party CAN bus devices

Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

2026-04-10T15:39:58Z

AdrianJagielak: Added citation for removing the legitimate Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control

Tesla remote FSD removal over third-party accessories

2026-04-10T15:37:25Z

AdrianJagielak:

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Tesla
|StartDate=2026-04-08
|EndDate=
|Status=Ongoing
|ProductLine=Tesla
|ArticleType=Incident
|Type=Forced Obsolescence
|Description=Tesla remotely revoked Full Self-Driving entitlements on vehicles in Europe and other markets after detecting third-party CAN bus devices, in some cases removing features that owners had paid for.
}}

In early April 2026, Tesla began remotely disabling Full Self-Driving (FSD) and other driver-assistance functionality on vehicles whose telemetry indicated the presence of a third-party accessory connected to the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.<ref name="electrek">Lambert, Fred (9 Apr 2026). "Tesla cracks down on FSD hacking devices, remotely shuts down access". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2026/04/09/tesla-cracks-down-fsd-hack-devices-remotely-disables-access/</ref> The action was carried out as a server-side change to vehicle entitlements, did not require the affected car to install a software update, and was issued without prior warning.<ref name="drivetesla">"Tesla remotely disables FSD on unauthorized vehicles using third-party devices". Drive Tesla Canada. 9 Apr 2026. https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/tesla-remotely-disables-fsd-on-unauthorized-vehicles-using-third-party-devices/</ref> Reports were documented in the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Turkey, Japan and Australia. In a number of cases the revocation downgraded the vehicle's paid Full Self-Driving package to Enhanced Autopilot, removing not only the unofficially region unlocked FSD functionality but also Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, a feature that is officially sold, regulator-approved in the affected markets, and was included in the FSD package the owner had paid for.

==Background==
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is sold by Tesla in many markets where it is not yet legally approved for use, including most of the European Union. EU approval is being pursued through the Dutch vehicle authority RDW under UN Regulation No. 171, with a decision anticipated for 2026 after several previous delays. Many European customers had paid for the FSD package (typically €6,000–€7,500 plus VAT) several years before the enforcement action, but were unable to use it pending approval.

In response to these delays, a gray market emerged for small hardware modules costing around €500 that plug into a Tesla's CAN bus and bypass the vehicle's regional software locks, enabling FSD (Supervised) in unsupported markets, if it was already paid for by the car owner.<ref name="electrek" />

==Incident==
Reports of remote revocations began surfacing on 8 April 2026.<ref name="carscoops">"They Rigged Tesla's FSD To Work Where It Wasn't Allowed. Tesla Just Found The Off Switch". Carscoops. 9 Apr 2026. https://www.carscoops.com/2026/04/tesla-fsd-jailbreak-crackdown/</ref> Affected owners reported receiving an in-vehicle notification reading ''"Your Autopilot package has returned to its original configuration,"'' and a separate message stating that ''"an unauthorized third-party device"'' had been detected and that some driver-assistance functions had been disabled "for safety reasons."<ref name="notatesla">"Tesla Disables FSD On 'Jailbroken' Cars Using Cheat Devices". Not a Tesla App. 9 Apr 2026. https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/3934/tesla-disables-fsd-on-jailbroken-cars-using-cheat-devices</ref>

In the European Union, owners reported losing access to features they had purchased, including Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, which remained otherwise on sale to other customers. The enforcement was applied to a number of vehicles that had not installed the most recent software version (2026.8.6), indicating the action was performed entirely server-side via Tesla's backend.<ref name="drivetesla" />

==Tesla's response==
Tesla has not issued a public statement specifically addressing the revocations. In direct communications with owners, the company has characterised third-party CAN bus devices as a cybersecurity threat and has stated that owners using such devices are "100% liable for any accident that occurs" and that Tesla reserves the right to refuse warranty repairs regardless of whether the device caused the damage. Tesla's notices to affected owners indicated that some features may be re-enabled in a future software update, without providing a timeline.<ref name="notatesla" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-15T11:00:44Z

AdrianJagielak: Update citations

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-06-18 |title=FAQ Subscription - Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UBjdJ |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Krever abonnement av kundene - Elektro24-7 |trans-title=Requires Subscription from Customers |url=https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html |access-date=2025-07-14 |language=no}}</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>{{Cite web |title=Products - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0" />

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. The subscription requirement was activated on June 26 2025, and both existing and new households were given a four-week trial period before charges apply.<ref name=":0" />

Customers who do not activate the subscription within that trial window face the following restrictions:<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |trans-title=The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |language=no}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.

As part of the ownership transition, FHSD Connect also shut down the official Futurehome user forum, stating they were ''"consolidating support channels"'', further limiting access to help resources for users who don't subscribe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Forum |url=https://forum.futurehome.io |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715103026/https://forum.futurehome.io/ |archive-date=2025-07-15 |access-date=2025-07-15}}</ref><gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a [https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US feedback form]
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription ([https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US link])
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":1" /> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |trans-title=Furious customers experience smart home blackmail |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no |language=no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":0" /> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in",'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.<ref name=":13" />

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en |url-status= |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge |language=no}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-date=2023-03-13 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>{{Cite web |title=runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |url=https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=homebridge-futurehome - npm |url=https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref name=":3" />
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-15T10:35:10Z

AdrianJagielak: Added note about official forum shutdown under FHSD Connect as part of support changes

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-06-18 |title=FAQ Subscription - Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UBjdJ |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Krever abonnement av kundene - Elektro24-7 |url=https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html |access-date=2025-07-14 |language=no}}</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>{{Cite web |title=Products - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0" />

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. The subscription requirement was activated on June 26 2025, and both existing and new households were given a four-week trial period before charges apply.<ref name=":0" />

Customers who do not activate the subscription within that trial window face the following restrictions:<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |trans-title=The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |language=no}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.

As part of the ownership transition, FHSD Connect also shut down the official Futurehome user forum, stating they were ''"consolidating support channels"'', further limiting access to help resources for users who don't subscribe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Forum |url=https://forum.futurehome.io |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715103026/https://forum.futurehome.io/ |archive-date=2025-07-15 |access-date=2025-07-15}}</ref><gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a [https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US feedback form]
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription ([https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US link])
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":1" /> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |trans-title=Furious customers experience smart home blackmail |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no |language=no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":0" /> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.{{Citation needed|reason=The original citation got hallucinated away by the LLM}}

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en |url-status= |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge |language=no}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-date=2023-03-13 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>{{Cite web |title=runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |url=https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=homebridge-futurehome - npm |url=https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status= |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T22:06:14Z

AdrianJagielak: I confirm the changes made by 89.64.19.38 were made by me.

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-06-18 |title=FAQ Subscription - Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/UBjdJ |archive-date=2025-07-13 |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Krever abonnement av kundene - Elektro24-7 |url=https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html |access-date=2025-07-14 |language=no}}</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>{{Cite web |title=Products - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0" />

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. The subscription requirement was activated on June 26 2025, and both existing and new households were given a four-week trial period before charges apply.<ref name=":0" />

Customers who do not activate the subscription within that trial window face the following restrictions:<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |trans-title=The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |language=no}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a [https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US feedback form]
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription ([https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US link])
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":13" /><ref name=":1" /> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |trans-title=Furious customers experience smart home blackmail |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no |language=no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":0" /> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.{{Citation needed|reason=The original citation got hallucinated away by the LLM}}

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en |url-status= |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge |language=no}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-date=2023-03-13 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>{{Cite web |title=runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |url=https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=homebridge-futurehome - npm |url=https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome |access-date=2025-07-14}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status= |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T11:29:24Z

AdrianJagielak: Update feedback form URL, pointing directly to the English version of the form (there's also a language switcher on the bottom left of the form)

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":04">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":13">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. The subscription requirement was activated on June 26 2025, and both existing and new households were given a four-week trial period before charges apply.<ref name=":0" />

Customers who do not activate the subscription within that trial window face the following restrictions:<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Local API Documentation |url=https://docs.futurehome.io/docs/integration/local-api |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a [https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US feedback form]
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription ([https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3?language=en_US link])
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":02">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in,"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Customer Email Communication |url=https://archive.ph/subscription-email |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T11:12:59Z

AdrianJagielak: Added clarification that the mandatory subscription includes a four-week trial period

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":04">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":13">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. The subscription requirement was activated on June 26 2025, and both existing and new households were given a four-week trial period before charges apply.<ref name=":0" />

Customers who do not activate the subscription within that trial window face the following restrictions:<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Local API Documentation |url=https://docs.futurehome.io/docs/integration/local-api |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":02">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in,"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Customer Email Communication |url=https://archive.ph/subscription-email |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.png

2025-07-14T10:39:08Z

AdrianJagielak: AdrianJagielak uploaded a new version of File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG

== Licensing ==
{{Self}}

File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.png

2025-07-14T10:38:04Z

AdrianJagielak: AdrianJagielak uploaded a new version of File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG

== Licensing ==
{{Self}}

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T10:19:57Z

AdrianJagielak: Unify user quotes

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":04">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":13">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. On June 26, 2025, a four-week trial period ended and the new pricing model took effect.

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay leads to the following restrictions''':<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Local API Documentation |url=https://docs.futurehome.io/docs/integration/local-api |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":02">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in,"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Customer Email Communication |url=https://archive.ph/subscription-email |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>Another user posted expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge}}</ref>''

''(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

User:AdrianJagielak

2025-07-14T10:15:52Z

AdrianJagielak: hi

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-14T10:15:11Z

AdrianJagielak: Removed duplicate image

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]

Futurehome ransomed customer devices after bankruptcy, forcing them to pay a subscription fee or face disabled core functionality.

In 2025, Futurehome's new owners announced that '''existing customers would now have to pay an annual subscription to continue using their previously purchased smart-home hubs'''. After a bankruptcy and relaunch, Futurehome imposed an annual fee of 1,188 NOK (around $117 USD) for access to its app and cloud services, locking users out unless they subscribed.<ref name=":04">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":13">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''Customers who declined to pay lost access to the mobile app (even for local use)''', along with all automations and the hub's local API integrations, leaving only basic on-device (physical) control.

==Company info & Background==
'''Futurehome''' AS is a Norwegian smart-home technology company founded in 2013, known for the ''Futurehome Smarthub'', a central gateway device that connects and controls IoT devices. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line ''(thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>)'' allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform.

The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant.

The '''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> was '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' '''Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model''', with app and cloud services included at no extra cost.

Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20, 2025. The platform and its services were acquired in a 50/50 split by Sikom Connect AS and the former Futurehome owners. The business was relaunched under a new entity: '''FHSD Connect AS.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
After the bankruptcy & relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117). Households that decline are locked out of the application, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.<ref name=":0" />

Following the relaunch, FHSD Connect announced that a mandatory subscription would be required to continue using the Smarthub platform. On June 26, 2025, a four-week trial period ended and the new pricing model took effect.

Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay leads to the following restrictions''':<ref name=":0" />

*'''App access disabled:''' Users can't use the app remotely via cloud or on the local network.
*'''Automations and modes frozen:''' All user-defined automations, preset modes ''(Home/Away/Night, etc.)'', shortcuts, and energy management features stop working.
*'''Local API and MQTT disabled:''' The hub's developer interfaces remain active only for a short grace period after the trial, then are gradually shut off without an active subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Local API Documentation |url=https://docs.futurehome.io/docs/integration/local-api |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
*'''Physical control only:''' Basic manual control of devices continues to work: the smart devices revert to ''"dumb"'' mode with no central coordination.
*'''Support limited:''' Access to customer support channels (chat and phone support) is reserved for paying subscribers.

These limitations were delivered via a firmware update to the hub's software, locking previously available features behind the paywall. One Futurehome software engineer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the firmware was designed to enforce this lockout mechanism and compel users to subscribe. As of the changeover, the Futurehome system was reportedly installed in over '''38,000 Norwegian households''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Norge |url=https://www.futurehome.io/no/ |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref> all of which had to choose between paying the new fees or losing most "smart" functionality.<gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Futurehome's reply==
FHSD CEO Øyvind Fries justified the subscription model as necessary to ''“secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support,”'' according to statements given to [[Tek.no]] and reiterated in the FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref> Fries explained that the subscription was introduced to ensure the '''long-term viability''' of the platform after bankruptcy: without new revenue, they could not guarantee stable operation of the cloud servers or continued updates to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasende kunder opplever smarthjem-utpressing |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Tek.no}}</ref>

He stated that the annual fee would help fund ongoing development of new features and maintain a high level of support for customers.<ref name=":02">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref> The company also emailed users saying the change would ultimately provide ''"better functionality, more security, and higher value in the solution you already have invested in,"'' positioning the subscription as an improvement for the user base.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome Customer Email Communication |url=https://archive.ph/subscription-email |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Consumer response==
The reaction from Futurehome’s user base was negative. Norwegian customers described the move as a betrayal, given that the original sale included full functionality with no indication that a subscription would be introduced later.

On Reddit’s r/norge, there is an active discussion thread filled with outrage, legal concerns, and comparisons to ransomware tactics.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en</ref>

One user, muffinmeistro, wrote:<blockquote>''I can't understand how what they're trying to do here is legal. I'd like to hear what u/thomasiversen thinks.''

''They're removing functionality locally in a hub (computer) that I've paid for with an update.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome is forcing existing customers to switch to a subscription, what now? : r/norge |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/comment/myhs0sm/?tl=en&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref></blockquote>Another user posted (in Norwegian) expressing concern for the pushing a subscription, as well as a poor user experince:<blockquote>''I want to spend my money somewhere else than paying over 1000 kroner a year for half-hearted functionality. What options do I have? I currently have lights and thermostats from Futurehome. Can these devices be used with Home Assistant?<ref>{{Cite web |last=MrGeniusL |date=2025-06-18 |title=Futurehome tvinger eksisterende kunder over til et abonnement, hva nå? |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=r/norge}}</ref>(Translated from Norwegian)''</blockquote>

===Questionable legality===
This issue drew attention to consumer protection laws. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), which means EU consumer-protection directives (such as those barring unfair commercial practices) are incorporated into Norwegian law. Observers noted that retroactively charging a subscription for a product that was sold under a no-fee premise might violate these rules, though as of mid-2025 it remained unclear if any official action would be taken. Some users discussed the possibility of legal recourse or a class-action lawsuit in response to Futurehome's move.

===Similarity to Wink===
In 2020, Wink suddenly introduced a $4.99 monthly fee for continued use of its previously free smart-home service, giving customers only a one-week ultimatum & warning that devices would stop working if they didn't pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/05/wink-smart-hub-users-get-one-weeks-notice-to-pay-up-or-lose-access/ |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Wink smart hub users get one week’s notice to pay up or lose access - Ars Technica}}</ref> That move led to a class-action lawsuit alleging deceptive business practices, breach of warranty, and even ''"trespass to chattels"'' on the grounds that Wink's remote deactivation scheme unlawfully interfered with consumers' owned property.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313203733/https://www.gdrlawfirm.com/Wink-class-action |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC {{!}} Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC files amended class action complaint against Wink Labs, Inc. over new monthly charge}}</ref>

Futurehome's forced subscription draws parallels to the Wink case while demonstrating an industry pattern of undermining the '''right to own''' what one has bought. Critics argue that such practices erode consumers' sense of ownership, turning purchased devices into services that can be revoked or paywalled at any time. .

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
Beyond the immediate loss of app functionality, the subscription requirement '''disables all third-party integrations'''. Futurehome previously allowed integration with:

*[[Home Assistant]] via a custom MQTT bridge<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref>
*[[Homebridge]] via NPM plugin for Apple HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref> let Futurehome devices be controlled via Siri and the Apple Home app

These relied on the hub’s local API and MQTT server. Once disabled, no data is sent or received, breaking compatibility with these platforms. Once the subscription enforcement kicked in, the hub stopped publishing or accepting local MQTT messages and the API shut down, breaking compatibility.

While some users may migrate to other smart home ecosystems using open protocols like Zigbee2MQTT<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zigbee2MQTT Supported Devices – Futurehome |url=https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome}}</ref>, some Futurehome-branded devices (e.g., the HAN-Sensor and Futurehome Charge EV charger) may lose core features or become inaccessible due to lack of open community drivers.

==Inadequate subscription notice==
Futurehome does not prominently disclose the new subscription requirement in product listings or on its homepage, even as the change was rolled out. The company's official website and online store continued to list the Smarthub and related products with their one-time purchase price only, with no prominent notice about the required annual fee.

The only mention of a subscription on the homepage was buried in fine print upon scrolling, and product pages ''(for devices like the HAN-Sensor or the Futurehome Mode Switch)'' contain no warning that the system requires ongoing payments.

Similarly, the Futurehome app listings on the Apple App Store and Google Play made no reference to a subscription requirement, potentially misleading new customers into thinking the hub's functionality was included in the purchase price.

<gallery mode="slideshow">
File:Subscription.jpg|The only mention of a subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] is in fine print on the second scroll page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|Landing view of homepage with no subscription mention.
</gallery>

Further, product and app store pages list only hardware prices, creating the false impression of a one-time purchase.

<gallery>
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple App Store listing for Futurehome, no mention of required subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Androidfree.jpg|Google Play listing for Futurehome app, no mention of subscription.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=no.futurehome.futurehome_app&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Hansensor.jpg|HAN Sensor product page: no mention of subscription requirement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|Modusbryter page omits any disclosure of subscription lock-in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Futurehome]]
[[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
[[Category:Forced subscription activation]]
[[Category:Consumer rights]]

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-13T23:09:38Z

AdrianJagielak: Added gallery with screenshots

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant. '''After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' – a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line (thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>) allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform. Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model, with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees.

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
'''On 20 May 2025''' Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt. Shortly after, the Futurehome platform and services were acquired by a new joint venture, '''50% held by the original owners and 50% by Sikom Connect AS''', a Norwegian IoT company, and operations resumed under a new entity, called '''FHSD Connect AS'''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''On 26 June 2025''' a mandatory subscription was activated in the app, with the existing households being granted a four-week free trial. After the trial, continued use of the hub requires '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ US $117)'''; non-subscribers are locked out of the app, automations, and local API. FHSD justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

The hub is installed in over 38,000 households across Norway.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site)</ref><gallery>
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.PNG|Futurehome app home screen prompting the user to activate a subscription.
File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.PNG|Subscription-activation screen showing annual-payment terms; one link opens the subscription FAQ, the other opens a feedback form (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (https://us1.zonka.co/1pBYm3)
</gallery>

==Consumer response==
The response from Futurehome’s user base in Norway was overwhelmingly negative. Many customers expressed shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal at what they saw as a '''sudden “paywall” imposed on equipment they had purchased''' in good faith. On the Norway discussion forum Reddit (r/norge), a thread about Futurehome’s new policy quickly filled with outraged comments.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en (Translated by Reddit)</ref>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One particularly painful aspect for advanced users is that '''the subscription lockout also breaks any third-party integrations.''' Futurehome’s ecosystem wasn’t completely closed – prior to this change, enthusiasts could integrate the Smarthub with systems like '''Home Assistant''' (an open source smart home platform)<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref> or use '''Homebridge''' to link with Apple’s HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>. These integrations typically relied on Futurehome’s '''local API or MQTT''' interface to communicate with the hub. Once Futurehome disables the local API/MQTT (after the grace period), such solutions '''will stop functioning'''. The hub won’t respond to local requests or publish updates, effectively '''cutting off Home Assistant, Homebridge, or any other external smart home controller''' from accessing the devices.

The only path for unhappy customers is to '''migrate to a completely different smart home system''', re-using the devices but abandoning the Futurehome hub. Fortunately, because Futurehome devices use standard protocols, many of them can be directly enrolled into other hubs or services.

Some hardware is harder to re-home. The Futurehome Charge EV-charger (connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/charge</ref>) relies on the Smarthub for smart-charging logic and may revert to basic, un-scheduled charging elsewhere. Likewise, the Futurehome HAN sensor (smart-meter reader) has no community driver listed on projects such as zigbee2mqtt.io<ref>https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome</ref>, so its data may be inaccessible without the original hub.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Placeholder box|[[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_categories|Add a category]] with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

The "Incidents" category is not needed.}}

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-13T23:04:35Z

AdrianJagielak: Add references

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub'''<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/</ref> is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant. '''After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.'''<ref name=":0">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref>

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' – a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line (thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/products</ref>) allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform. Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model, with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees.

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
'''On 20 May 2025''' Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt. Shortly after, the Futurehome platform and services were acquired by a new joint venture, '''50% held by the original owners and 50% by Sikom Connect AS''', a Norwegian IoT company, and operations resumed under a new entity, called '''FHSD Connect AS'''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">https://www.elektro247.no/krever-abonnement-av-kundene.6722352-567787.html</ref>

'''On 26 June 2025''' a mandatory subscription was activated in the app, with the existing households being granted a four-week free trial. After the trial, continued use of the hub requires '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ US $117)'''; non-subscribers are locked out of the app, automations, and local API. FHSD justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/alMe04/rasende-kunder-opplever-smarthjem-utpressing</ref>

The hub is installed in over 38,000 households across Norway.<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/no/ (The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site)</ref>

==Consumer response==
The response from Futurehome’s user base in Norway was overwhelmingly negative. Many customers expressed shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal at what they saw as a '''sudden “paywall” imposed on equipment they had purchased''' in good faith. On the Norway discussion forum Reddit (r/norge), a thread about Futurehome’s new policy quickly filled with outraged comments.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1lek0p7/futurehome_tvinger_eksisterende_kunder_over_til/?tl=en (Translated by Reddit)</ref>

==Impact on Third-Party Integrations==
One particularly painful aspect for advanced users is that '''the subscription lockout also breaks any third-party integrations.''' Futurehome’s ecosystem wasn’t completely closed – prior to this change, enthusiasts could integrate the Smarthub with systems like '''Home Assistant''' (an open source smart home platform)<ref>https://github.com/runelangseid/hassio-futurehome2mqtt</ref> or use '''Homebridge''' to link with Apple’s HomeKit<ref>https://www.npmjs.com/package/homebridge-futurehome</ref>. These integrations typically relied on Futurehome’s '''local API or MQTT''' interface to communicate with the hub. Once Futurehome disables the local API/MQTT (after the grace period), such solutions '''will stop functioning'''. The hub won’t respond to local requests or publish updates, effectively '''cutting off Home Assistant, Homebridge, or any other external smart home controller''' from accessing the devices.

The only path for unhappy customers is to '''migrate to a completely different smart home system''', re-using the devices but abandoning the Futurehome hub. Fortunately, because Futurehome devices use standard protocols, many of them can be directly enrolled into other hubs or services.

Some hardware is harder to re-home. The Futurehome Charge EV-charger (connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth<ref>https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/charge</ref>) relies on the Smarthub for smart-charging logic and may revert to basic, un-scheduled charging elsewhere. Likewise, the Futurehome HAN sensor (smart-meter reader) has no community driver listed on projects such as zigbee2mqtt.io<ref>https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/supported-devices/#v=Futurehome</ref>, so its data may be inaccessible without the original hub.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Placeholder box|[[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_categories|Add a category]] with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

The "Incidents" category is not needed.}}

Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee

2025-07-13T22:55:19Z

AdrianJagielak: First draft, before adding references

[[File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg|thumb|Futurehome’s Smarthub (left) and example compatible devices]]
'''Futurehome Smarthub''' is a Norwegian smart-home gateway '''originally sold as a one-time purchase.''' The hub lets users pair Zigbee-, Z-Wave-, and Futurehome-branded devices and control them locally or remotely through a free mobile app and cloud service; it also exposes local APIs for third-party integrations such as Home Assistant. '''After the company’s 2025 bankruptcy and relaunch, ''any'' continued use now requires an annual subscription of 1,188 NOK (≈ $117); households that decline are locked out of the app, automations, and the local API interface, leaving only manual, on-device control.'''

==Background==
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' – a central hub that connects and controls various IoT devices using standards like Zigbee and Z-Wave. The Smarthub and Futurehome’s own product line (thermostats, smart plugs, relays, sensors, etc.) allow users to automate lighting, heating, EV charging, and other home functions via a mobile app and cloud platform. Prior to 2025, Futurehome operated on a one-time hardware purchase model, with app and cloud services included at no extra cost. Users could remotely monitor and control their smart homes through the Futurehome app without any subscription fees.

==June 2025 Subscription Rollout==
'''On 20 May 2025''' Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt. Shortly after, the Futurehome platform and services were acquired by a new joint venture, '''50% held by the original owners and 50% by Sikom Connect AS''', a Norwegian IoT company, and operations resumed under a new entity, called '''FHSD Connect AS'''.

'''On 26 June 2025''' a mandatory subscription was activated in the app, with the existing households being granted a four-week free trial. After the trial, continued use of the hub requires '''1,188 NOK per year (≈ US $117)'''; non-subscribers are locked out of the app, automations, and local API. FHSD justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.

==Consumer response==
The response from Futurehome’s user base in Norway was overwhelmingly negative. Many customers expressed shock, anger, and a sense of betrayal at what they saw as a '''sudden “paywall” imposed on equipment they had purchased''' in good faith. On the Norway discussion forum Reddit (r/norge), a thread about Futurehome’s new policy quickly filled with outraged comments.

== Impact on Third-Party Integrations ==
One particularly painful aspect for advanced users is that '''the subscription lockout also breaks any third-party integrations.''' Futurehome’s ecosystem wasn’t completely closed – prior to this change, enthusiasts could integrate the Smarthub with systems like '''Home Assistant''' (an open source smart home platform) or use '''Homebridge''' to link with Apple’s HomeKit. These integrations typically relied on Futurehome’s '''local API or MQTT''' interface to communicate with the hub. Once Futurehome disables the local API/MQTT (after the grace period), such solutions '''will stop functioning'''. The hub won’t respond to local requests or publish updates, effectively '''cutting off Home Assistant, Homebridge, or any other external smart home controller''' from accessing the devices.

The only path for unhappy customers is to '''migrate to a completely different smart home system''', re-using the devices but abandoning the Futurehome hub. Fortunately, because Futurehome devices use standard protocols, many of them can be directly enrolled into other hubs or services.

Some hardware is harder to re-home. The Futurehome Charge EV-charger (connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) relies on the Smarthub for smart-charging logic and may revert to basic, un-scheduled charging elsewhere. Likewise, the Futurehome HAN sensor (smart-meter reader) has no community driver listed on projects such as zigbee2mqtt.io, so its data may be inaccessible without the original hub.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Placeholder box|[[mw:Help:VisualEditor/User_guide#Editing_categories|Add a category]] with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

The "Incidents" category is not needed.}}

File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg

2025-07-13T22:47:35Z

AdrianJagielak:

== Licensing ==
{{Self}}

File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 2.png

2025-07-13T22:35:47Z

AdrianJagielak:

File:Futurehome Subscription App Info 1.png

2025-07-13T22:35:29Z

AdrianJagielak:

== Licensing ==
{{Self}}

File:Futurehome Smarthub.jpg

2025-07-13T21:12:36Z

AdrianJagielak:

== Licensing ==
{{Fairuse}}