Hardware as a service

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Hardware as a service (HaaS) (not to be confused with Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)), is a subscription model for physical appliances, such as cars. Unlike IaaS, which consists on leasing/renting machines remotely, HaaS is about leasing devices and tools that the customer has physical access to.

Why it is a problem

In recent times, corporations have been abusing this model for extra profit, by charging customers twice:

1. The customer pays for the appliance
2. The customer must subscribe to unlock "extra" features, gated by digital locks

Examples

• Heated seats being a subscription
• Horsepower being a subcription (see: Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz)

See also

• Software as a service
• Automotive digital rights management