Google Jamboard
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Product Type | Educational Technology(ed-tech) |
| In Production | No |
| Official Website | https://support.google.com/jamboard/answer/14084927 |
Consumer-impact summary
Google Jamboard was a $4,999 interactive digital whiteboard launched in 2017 that demonstrates modern anti-ownership practices through remote deactivation. Organizations including schools & businesses invested $4,999 per device for this collaborative device that Google announced in September 2023 would have its primary features disabled by October 2024 & and all user data permanently deleted by December 2024. The shutdown shows how companies can revoke core functionality of purchased products through server-side termination, turning expensive high-tech devices into junk regardless of hardware condition or customer preference.
Incidents
Remote deactivation & forced obsolescence (September 28, 2023)
On September 28, 2023, Google announced the complete shutdown of Jamboard. They created a timeline that would disable all cloud features by October 1, 2024, and permanently delete all user data by December 31, 2024.[1] This decision affects organizations that paid $4,999 per device plus $600 annual management fees, with educational institutions particularly impacted as they built curriculums around the platform.[2]
The shutdown converts devices into "unlicensed mode" where they can't save content, use Google Meet, or do any cloud-connected function. After December 31, 2024, the devices lose about 90% of their capabilities, functioning only as basic HDMI displays despite their sophisticated hardware being in-tact.[3]
Data loss & forced migration (December 31, 2024)
Google's shutdown includes permanent deletion of all user-created content ("Jams") on December 31, 2024, forcing organizations to manually export years of collaborative work. The company offers only "best-effort" PDF conversion, with users reporting blank PDFs & loss of interactive elements.[4]
Educational institutions report losing hundreds of lesson plans integrated into their teaching workflows, with one Change.org petition gathering 498 supporters highlighting the impact on "youngest English language learners" & COVID-era remote learning materials.[5] The forced migration to alternative platforms like FigJam, Miro, or Lucidspark required additional investments of more than $7,000 per replacement when including new hardware, software subscriptions, & implementation costs.
Lack of compensation for hardware purchasers (2024)
Despite the very large up-front financial investment by customers, Google offered zero hardware compensation for non-educational buyers who purchased the $4,999 devices. Educational institutions received only vague promises of compensation "on a partner-by-partner basis" without specific details.[6]
The devices couldn't run alternative software due to locked bootloaders & proprietary firmware, making them permanently obsolete once Google's servers shut down. A group of tech-savvy individuals on XDA-developers forum ported lineageOS to the devices so they may have increased functionality. [7] Factory resets prompt for activation codes that can't be obtained, which results in the hardware becoming e-waste regardless of physical condition.
See also
References
- ↑ "Google shutting down Jamboard, offering transition to other whiteboard apps". 9to5Google. 2023-09-28.
- ↑ "$5,000 Google Jamboard Dies In 2024 -- Cloud-Based Apps Will Stop Working, Too". Slashdot.
- ↑ "Google Jamboard is winding down". Google Support.
- ↑ "Export your jams". Google Support.
- ↑ "Petition · Save Jamboard". Change.org.
- ↑ "The next phase of digital whiteboarding for Google Workspace". Google Workspace Updates. 2023-09-28.
- ↑ "[UNOFFICIAL] LineageOS 22 for the Google Jamboard - WIP | XDA Forums". XDA-Forums. Retrieved 2025-09-01.