Ngenic forces subscription on previously “lifetime” Tune customers: Difference between revisions
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Ngenic AB sold a hardware+cloud product called Ngenic Tune for residential heating optimization. Historically, customers could either (a) buy the hardware for 2 795 SEK and pay 49 SEK/month, or (b) buy a “one-time payment” perpetual license for 5 395 SEK with no monthly fee. In 2025, after bankruptcy and a change of ownership, the service was moved to a new company (Ngenic Energi AB). All users—including those who previously bought the one-time “lifetime” option—are now required to pay a recurring subscription ( | Ngenic AB sold a hardware+cloud product called Ngenic Tune for residential heating optimization. Historically, customers could either (a) buy the hardware for 2 795 SEK and pay 49 SEK/month, or (b) buy a “one-time payment” perpetual license for 5 395 SEK with no monthly fee. In 2025, after bankruptcy and a change of ownership, the service was moved to a new company (Ngenic Energi AB). All users—including those who previously bought the one-time “lifetime” option—are now required to pay a recurring subscription (49-79 SEK/month for existing owners; regular price 99-159 SEK/month).[[File:Ngenicmail.png|thumb|Customer email (June 17, 2025) announcing the switch to subscriptions and “discounted” pricing for existing customers.]] | ||
==The announcement== | ==The announcement== | ||
On 14 May 2025, Ngenic announced it had been acquired by the family-owned Aurorakoncernen and stated it would change its business model going forward. On the company’s support site (updated 4 July 2025), Ngenic clarified that all users must enroll in a subscription, explicitly answering “'''Yes unfortunately'''” to whether this applies to customers who previously paid full price for hardware, citing the bankruptcy of the former Ngenic AB and the creation of Ngenic Energi AB.[2] | On 14 May 2025, Ngenic announced it had been acquired by the family-owned Aurorakoncernen and stated it would change its business model going forward. On the company’s support site (updated 4 July 2025), Ngenic clarified that all users must enroll in a subscription, explicitly answering “'''Yes unfortunately'''” to whether this applies to customers who previously paid full price for hardware, citing the bankruptcy of the former Ngenic AB and the creation of Ngenic Energi AB.[2] | ||
==Timeline of changes== | ==Timeline of changes== | ||
*'''9 Sep 2022 (captured 11 Aug 2024):''' Official pricing page states two models: | *'''9 Sep 2022 (captured 11 Aug 2024):''' Official pricing page states two models: 2 795 SEK + 49 SEK/month or 5 395 SEK one-time (no monthly fees).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240811094858/https://en.support.ngenic.se/article/72-how-much-does-it-cost How much does it cost?] (Wayback capture).</ref> | ||
*'''28–30 Apr 2025:''' '''Ngenic AB''' is placed into | *'''28–30 Apr 2025:''' '''Ngenic AB''' is placed into bankruptcy (Uppsala District Court). Retail partners pause sales citing the bankruptcy.<ref>[https://etn.se/index.php/nyheter/72077-konkurs-for-den-smarta-energistyrningen.html Elektroniktidningen: “Konkurs för den smarta energistyrningen”] ('''Apr 30, 2025''').</ref><ref>[https://www.kraftringen.se/privat/el/ngenic/ Kraftringen notice] (states Uppsala District Court decision '''Apr 28, 2025''').</ref> | ||
*'''14 May 2025: | *'''14 May 2025:''' New owner announced ('''Aurorakoncernen''').<ref>[https://ngenic.se/ny-agare-av-ngenic/ “Ny ägare av Ngenic”] ('''May 14, 2025''').</ref> | ||
*'''4 Jun 2025:''' New CEO announced.<ref>[https://ngenic.se/valkommen-fredrik-lemming-ny-vd-for-ngenic/ “Välkommen Fredrik Lemming, ny vd för Ngenic”] ('''Jun 4, 2025''').</ref> | *'''4 Jun 2025:''' New CEO announced.<ref>[https://ngenic.se/valkommen-fredrik-lemming-ny-vd-for-ngenic/ “Välkommen Fredrik Lemming, ny vd för Ngenic”] ('''Jun 4, 2025''').</ref> | ||
*'''17 Jun 2025:''' | *'''17 Jun 2025:''' email sent out to customers announcing mandatory subscriptions and “discounted” pricing for existing users. | ||
*'''4 Jul 2025: | *'''4 Jul 2025:''' FAQ confirms that all users (including prior lifetime purchasers) must subscribe; sets prices (49/79 SEK for existing owners, regular 99/159 SEK), and states service control will stop for non-subscribers after 1 Aug 2025.<ref>[https://support.ngenic.se/article/202-vanliga-fragor-om-inforandet-av-abonnemang Ngenic FAQ] ('''Jul 4, 2025''').</ref> | ||
==Consumer impact== | |||
Customers who paid almost double for the “no monthly fees” option (5 395 SEK) are now placed in the same position as those who bought the lower-priced hardware with a monthly fee. The meaningful difference they paid for—perpetual service without subscriptions—has been removed after purchase.<!-- maybe add some info here about exactly what happens to the devices if they don't pay the subscription? are they completely bricked or is there some kind of offline only element? --> | |||
==Consumer reaction== | ==Consumer reaction== | ||
Users have raised concerns that a post-sale change of terms undermines trust and penalizes those who purchased the most expensive option to avoid recurring fees. The company’s FAQ frames this as necessary due to the former company’s bankruptcy and the costs of operating the service, but this does not restore the lost expectation of a lifetime, no-subscription service for those who paid for it. | Users have raised concerns that a post-sale change of terms undermines trust and penalizes those who purchased the most expensive option to avoid recurring fees.{{CitationNeeded}} The company’s FAQ frames this as necessary due to the former company’s bankruptcy and the costs of operating the service, but this does not restore the lost expectation of a lifetime, no-subscription service for those who paid for it. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||