WyzeCam v1 smart security camera to be discontinued February 1st.

Image: Wyze

The original giant killer in the smart home camera space, the WyzeCam, is just shy of its fifth birthday. The company told its customers this week that it will no longer sell or support its original product because the camera can't support a security update.

Wyze warns in the email that it will no longer actively monitor or patch new security vulnerabilities for the device and that your continued use of the WyzeCam after February 1, 2022, carries increased risk.

The email included a link to a coupon for a new Wyze cam. The flagship model of the online store is the Wyze cam v3.

Five years is a short time for a security camera, but it is not bad considering the low price of the original WyzeCam and the high-end features. Even if you purchased one two years ago, $10 or so for each year of coverage is still a good deal, as Wyze's connected cameras don't require a subscription to review recorded footage.

The Wyze cam helped encourage other companies to make cheaper cameras. Wyze is leaving many of its users out of luck when it comes to securely monitoring their homes because February 1st is less than a week away.

The move highlights a need for smart home companies to sell their products with support expiration dates attached, or at least a promise for how long they will provide security and feature updates.

While Wyze has an End of Life policy, it is not well-advertised, as last year, Google announced it would guarantee at least five years of support and updates for its smart home gear. When you buy a Wyze cam v3 there is no obvious link to the policy on the product page, and there is no mention of it in the terms and conditions.

The future success of the smart home is dependent on transparency and trust, which are crucial for a company to sell points. This is one place where the companies selling these devices could do better.

Wyze didn't reply to a request for comment.