Futurehome Smarthub Mandatory Subscription Fee: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
'''Futurehome AS''', founded in Stavanger, Norway, in 2013, sold the '''Futurehome Smarthub''' | '''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'''. | |||
Futurehome AS was declared bankrupt on May 20th, 2025. The platform & its services were purchased with 50/50 ownership by Sikom Connect & the old Futurehome owners. The business now operates under FHSD Connect AS. | |||
==June 2025 Subscription Rollout== | ==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 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. | '''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. | ||
Customers had until June 26, 2025 to activate this subscription. '''Failing to pay would lead to the following:'''<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome |url=https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription |website=FAQ Subscription – Futurehome}}</ref> | |||
*Loss of application function: remote AND LAN app control disabled | |||
*Local API/MQTT(mosquitobroker) interface is disabled after a short ''"grace period"'' is up | |||
*The '''app is locked''' and most paid features become unavailable. | |||
*You lose access to controls, automations, modes, shortcuts, and energy services. | |||
*Local devices still work manually, but without app control. | |||
This is enforced via a forced firmware update that disables functionality if a subscription is not paid for, according to a software engineer | |||
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> | 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> | ||
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File:Futurehome subscription feedback form.jpg|Feedback form presented to users who decline the subscription (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> | </gallery> | ||
==Futurehome's reply== | |||
FHSD justified the fee as necessary to “secure stable operation, fund product development, and provide high-quality support”, according to FAQ.<ref name=":022">https://support.futurehome.no/hc/en-no/articles/28158944965277-FAQ-Subscription (Archived 13.07.2025 https://archive.ph/UBjdJ)</ref><ref name=":12">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> | |||
==Consumer response== | ==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> | 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> | ||
Norwegian consumers questioned the legality of what FHSD Connect AS did under EU consumer protection law. Muffinmeistro commented the following:<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> | |||
==Impact on Third-Party Integrations== | ==Impact on Third-Party Integrations== | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
==Inadequate subscription notice== | |||
The fact that the products utilize a subscription based model is not clearly communicated to a visitor to the main website. The homepage only makes mention of a subscription based model on the 2nd page, in very small print font. Screenshots have been taken below of the site with Brave browser maximized on a 4k display, with the only mention of a subscription on the homepage enclosed in red with the arrow going to it. | |||
<gallery mode="slideshow"> | |||
File:Subscription.jpg|User must scroll to 2nd page of [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> and read very small text at the bottom to realize product is a subscription. | |||
File:Homepage futurehome.jpg|No mention of subscription on [https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ site homepage] <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome}}</ref> when you first land on the page. | |||
</gallery>Further, the product pages only show the cost of the individual parts, without ever making mention of the subscription model. <gallery> | |||
File:Applefree.jpg|Apple app store page for Futurehome app, makes no obvious mention that this will require subscription to work. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Futurehome on the App Store |url=https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/futurehome/id1470952171 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Futurehome on the App Store}}</ref> | |||
File:Androidfree.jpg|Futurehome on Google Play store, makes no obvious mention that will require a 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 |website=Futurehome - Apps on Google Play}}</ref> | |||
File:Hansensor.jpg|The product page for the hansensor makes no obvious mention that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user. It only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership. Hansensor product page on Futurehome.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/han-sensor |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=HAN-Sensor - Futurehome}}</ref> | |||
File:Modusbryter nosub.jpg|modusbryter page on futurehome site. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome |url=https://www.futurehome.io/en_no/shop/modeswitch-black#tab-description |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Modusbryter (Black) - Futurehome}}</ref> It makes no obvious mention of the fact that this works within an ecosystem that now forces subscriptions on the user, only makes mention of hardware price, giving incomplete impression of cost of ownership. | |||
</gallery> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||