Who's Footing The Bill?

[Knightrider]

I want to know who's paying for the server? I don't think its x10. That being said, what happens to the WM100 when someone stops paying for the service?

I readily doubt it's a one time fee, but could be wrong.

I'm just now getting into learning how this all works.

[Knightrider]

Better yet, someone like me that has maxed out his WM100 uses quite a bit more data requests than the casual user.

I priced Alibaba cloud services at around 14 USD per month per million messages.  I'm guessing I use around 30 per day.

30×365=10,950.

Let's say 1,000 of these units have been sold. That's almost 11 million messages.

I can't see that as a sustainable business model.

[Knightrider]

These things could become bricks much faster than expected.

[Knightrider]

Ok, so my math is off by calculating yearly traffic and comparing it to monthly billing, but my point remains the same.

There is no free lunch and someone has to pay the band.

[Tuicemen]

All the more reason for local control.
Even better would be the ability to flash the firmware with  ones own.

[Knightrider]

Not sure this was thought out.

[Tuicemen]

From replies to my emails to Authinx about the server outages it would appear the factory is looking after the server.

[Knightrider]

Until they get mad or fired or outsourced.  By holding the code hostage, they ensure a monopoly on production.

Checkmate.

[JeffVolp]

There is no free lunch and someone has to pay the band.

As many of us found out with ActiveHome Pro when X10WTI went belly up.

Jeff

[petera]

As they say "a hostage to fortune". Once I buy something I like to own it.

[Tuicemen]

Until they get mad or fired or outsourced.  By holding the code hostage, they ensure a monopoly on production.

Checkmate.

This the main reason we need to find a way to flash this thing! The factory could release a firmware which would render all WM100s bricks.
This almost happened in a previous release but testers like myself were only affected.
There are so many ways we can be affected.
The factory could at some point decide you have to pay for cloud service

[dave w]

what happens to the WM100 when someone stops paying for the service?

A great unhappiness and darkness will descend on our community (but likely in the opposite order).
I'm sorry but sometimes I can't help myself.

On a serious note: IF the factory does indeed control the server, we Willy owners are in a precarious position. Dave Rye once wrote about how the Chinese government wanted the land that the X10 and the Radio Shack PnP factories were located. The managers of the factories were told the bulldozers would be there in three weeks. Rye related the panic that rippled through X10 WTI. They survived by selling non X10 tablets, security systems, cameras, etc. for a year while they sourced another manufacturer. Old X10'ers will remember this period.

The point is; in China, nothing is for certain, except maybe the government.

[HA Dave]

These things could become bricks much faster than expected.

They will.... faster than some expected... but they may last much longer than others would have guessed. Maybe we should start a pool? I think Americans (older Americans) still have concepts of gadget lifespans that are equal to old-fashioned America (pre-WW2) manufacturing. The old vinyl records.... if cared for properly... lasted for decades. Even if the music imprinted on them was only popular for a few weeks.

I think Asian concepts of a electronic gadgets lifespan may be much more accurate. Everything lasts a few months... or maybe a year or two... then we move on to something else.

I've recently had to reevaluate my DVD/Blue Ray collection. Whereas it is nice to have tangible entertainment.... why waste the space they consume. When nearly everything can be streamed when and where I want to see it. Videos are a perfect example of ownership compared to monthly fee for use. Ownership.... can be very limiting.     

The point is; in China, nothing is for certain...….

And here..... I thought things might be different in different places.

Fact is.... nothing is forever. All these people concerned about their Home Automation being a service. Like somehow they've figured out how to OWN their electric power, cable/satellite TV, Internet, or phone. Even if you own your home.... government powers will certainly demand a TAX... for your privilege of ownership.

[Knightrider]

Dave, you're making the point that this unit isn't worth the pricetag.

[JeffVolp]

I think Asian concepts of a electronic gadgets lifespan may be much more accurate. Everything lasts a few months... or maybe a year or two... then we move on to something else.

I think most of us here have been using X10 for much longer than a "year or two".  I started with the brown BSR modules and the clock timer with the blue display back in the 80's.  And our XTB devices are intended to have a similar life span.

Jeff