Bose has made a user-friendly decision to open-source the API documentation for its SoundTouch smart speakers, originally set to lose official support on February 18th, as reported by Ars Technica. The date has now been extended to May 6th, 2026. This move allows for the continuation of local controls through an update to the SoundTouch app post cloud support termination. Users can still stream music via Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and AUX connections. Remote control functionalities, speaker grouping, and speaker setup remain unaffected.
With the API open-sourced, users have the opportunity to develop their own SoundTouch tools to compensate for the absence of cloud services. While it is unfortunate that official support is ending, Bose’s approach enables users to keep using their devices rather than rendering them inoperable.
Notably, this departure from the norm is a positive step. Typically, products losing cloud service support face bricking, with users occasionally resorting to community-driven solutions. For example, after Pebble’s closure in 2016, users banded together to create the Rebble Alliance, offering alternative cloud services, firmware, and an app store for the watches.
Source: The Verge