Why Software Support Matters for Smart Home Gadgets
For consumers invested in smart home technology, the frustration of products becoming obsolete due to lack of software support is all too real. Companies sometimes require subscription fees for continued support, leaving users with limited functionality or even rendering their devices unusable.
In a recent letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), representatives from iFixit, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Consumer Reports highlighted the anti-consumer practices of smart device manufacturers. They emphasized how these practices impact consumers’ ownership of their purchased devices.
A study conducted by the FTC revealed that a significant number of smart gadget manufacturers fail to disclose the duration of software support for their products. Out of 184 devices across 64 categories, only 11.3 percent provided this information on their product pages.
Most manufacturers do not prominently display software support duration on their websites or product materials, making it challenging for consumers to make informed decisions. The FTC also found that search engines like Google may not always provide accurate information on support timelines.
Failure to disclose software support information for products costing $15 or more violates the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, according to the FTC. Even when manufacturers do provide information, it can be misleading or ambiguous, such as promising “lifetime support” while failing to issue updates.
Consumer rights groups advocate for new rules that would require transparent disclosure of software support timelines. This would empower consumers to make informed choices and encourage manufacturers to produce longer-lasting devices.
