As of: April 3, 2024, 6:03 a.m
By: Carmen Mörwald
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Due to a lack of investor, Gigaset's smart home system had to be switched off. Customers have no choice but to dispose of the devices.
Munich - Some Gigaset customers will probably have to drive to the recycling center soon if they haven't already been there. Last Good Friday, March 29, the same brand's smart home products became electronic waste. Since no investor was found during the insolvency proceedings, the telecommunications company was forced to pull the plug.
Switching off the Gigaset servers turned smart home devices into electronic waste
Gigaset became known for its cordless landline telephones. Over time, the Bocholt-based company has brought its own smartphones and a smart home system onto the market. The latter has now been rendered unusable with just a few days' notice. Because when the servers were switched off on Friday, the respective devices were also switched off.
What is Smart Home?
The English term “Smart Home” – translated as “intelligent home” – is not clearly defined. It is also occasionally used for intelligent individual solutions such as heating controls. As a rule, household appliances are networked so that they can be operated remotely and automatically. This allows end users to improve comfort, energy consumption and security in their home, among other things.
Source: consumer advice center
So customers are now stuck with a pile of electronic waste that cannot be returned. Gigaset made this clear from the start. Any claims from customers are insolvency claims that can be asserted with evidence from the court-appointed administrator, it goes on to say. The company provides forms for this on the website.
No investor found despite “intensive efforts” – end to smart home devices
Gigaset went bankrupt in the fall of 2023. The reason for this was “an unexpected and significant decline in sales in the second half of the year”. The company explained that the negotiations with lenders and lenders had not been sufficiently fleshed out to secure the necessary inflow of funds to continue Gigaset outside of insolvency proceedings.
Although Gigaset managed to find a buyer for the telecommunications business during the insolvency proceedings, the buyer was not prepared to take over the “Smart Home/Care business”. Specifically, it is the Chinese computer company VTech Holdings, which produces, among other things, game consoles and cordless telephones.
After Gigaset filed for bankruptcy, all of the brand's smart home devices have now been switched off. © Roland Weihrauch/dpa
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Efforts were made to find an alternative buyer for this business area, but were unsuccessful despite “intensive efforts,” Gigaset said. As a result, the servers for the cloud services had to be switched off three months after the opening of insolvency proceedings. It is also pointed out: “Maintenance is not possible under insolvency law.”
Bankruptcies have been increasing in the country for a year. Energy crisis, pandemic, inflation – the crises of recent years have particularly affected small and medium-sized companies. Experts expect high numbers of insolvencies to continue in 2024 before the situation stabilizes again. The Growth Opportunities Act, which was passed in March, is intended to provide support.
(cln)