Futurehome Smarthub mandatory subscription fee: Difference between revisions

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 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 |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>
+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.
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 *'''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>
+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 |others=The updated figure of 38,000 is listed only on the Norwegian version of the site |title=Futurehome Norge |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]
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 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 was hallucinated away by the LLM}}
+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==