Belkin’s Wemo Smart Devices to Go Offline This Saturday
▼ Summary
– Belkin will terminate cloud services for nearly all Wemo smart home devices on Saturday, disabling remote access and voice assistant integrations.
– The shutdown, announced in July, affects most products like smart plugs and a coffee maker, but spares a few Thread-based devices.
– Wemo devices configured through Apple’s HomeKit will continue to function, but must be set up in HomeKit before January 31st.
– After the shutdown, affected devices will only operate manually, losing all cloud-dependent features.
– Customers with devices still under warranty may be eligible for a partial refund following the service termination.
This Saturday marks a significant change for owners of Belkin’s Wemo smart home products, as the company will officially discontinue cloud services for nearly its entire lineup. This action will permanently disable key smart features, including remote access from outside the home and voice control integrations with major platforms like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The official Wemo mobile application will also cease to receive updates, effectively ending its development and long-term support.
The company initially revealed these plans back in July, outlining a broad impact across most Wemo-branded gadgets. The list of affected products is extensive, covering everything from common smart plugs and light switches to more niche items like a smart coffee maker. However, a select few newer devices built on the Thread wireless protocol will continue to operate normally. These exceptions include the Wemo 3-way smart light switch (model WLS0503), the Stage smart scene controller (WSC010), the Thread-enabled smart plug (WSP100), and the smart video doorbell (WDC010).
For users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, there is an important alternative path. Wemo devices that are compatible with Apple HomeKit will retain their functionality if they are fully configured within the HomeKit framework. It is crucial to complete this setup process before the January 31st deadline to ensure a seamless transition. Once added to HomeKit, these devices will operate through Apple’s platform independently of the defunct Wemo cloud.
For all other non-Thread Wemo products, the aftermath of this shutdown is stark. After Saturday, these devices will revert to basic manual operation only. A smart plug, for instance, could still be turned on or off at the wall, but it would lose all scheduling, remote control, and voice command capabilities. Belkin has stated that customers with devices still under an active warranty may be eligible to receive a partial refund following the cloud service termination, though specific details and the claims process would need to be confirmed directly with the company.
(Source: The Verge)
