First reported by ARS, Futurehome, a company known for its smart home hubs, has announced a new requirement for users of its Smarthub II device. Owners must now pay an annual subscription fee of roughly $117 to keep using the device’s connected features. Without this payment, the smart hub will only work in manual mode, which means users have to control their devices directly rather than through the usual app or automation functions.
The Smarthub II, which has a retail price of about $275, has been used by people who want to manage different smart devices in their homes. The hub lets users connect and control things like lights, locks, and thermostats from one place. Before the change, people who bought the hub could use these features without paying any extra fees beyond the price of the device. That has now changed with this new subscription model.
Futurehome says this change is needed because the company is dealing with bankruptcy. By moving to a paid subscription, they hope to keep their services going. The company has told users that without the subscription, many of the features that made the Smarthub II useful will be turned off. Only basic, manual control of devices will be possible for those who do not pay. This means that routines, remote access, and other advanced functions will not work unless users sign up for the subscription.
This move has rightly irritated folks. Many people bought the Smarthub II thinking they were getting a product that would keep working as advertised for as long as the hardware lasted. Now, they are being asked to pay a yearly fee to keep the same features. Some users have said this is an unwelcome surprise, especially since the hub was not originally sold as a subscription product.
This change is an example of how companies can change their business models even after people have already bought a product. When a company changes to require a subscription after you’ve already purchased their device and have been using it, it can be frustrating and can make users less likely to trust that company in the future.
This is one of the reasons why we recommend smart home devices that operate in a local only mode here, because at any time a smart home device’s manufacturer can decide that they are going to start charging a subscription fee to use the device. Case in point, all of the smart camera subscriptions these days, and the new Amazon Alexa subscription costs. For folks looking for an alternative, we recommend Home Assistant.
View more information here about the subscription changes.
