Bose to end cloud service for SoundTouch wireless speakers, releases technical specifications and makes them open source
Bose will end the cloud service it has been offering for its SoundTouch series of home wireless speakers in 2026. To mark the end of this service, a final update will be released in May 2026, allowing various features to be used locally without going through the cloud. The service will also be open-sourced to allow for the development of SoundTouch-compatible tools and features.
SoundTouch Cloud Service Ending | What It Means for You | Bose
SoundTouch Cloud Service End of Service | Impact of End of Service | Bose
Bose open-sources its SoundTouch home theater smart speakers ahead of end-of-life - Ars Technica
'SoundTouch' is the name of a family of wireless home speakers developed by audio manufacturer Bose. Using an app, users could manage multiple speakers and play the same music throughout the house or different music in different rooms.
Bose SoundTouch – Apps on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bose.soundtouch&hl=ja
In October 2025, it was announced that the service would end on February 18, 2026. However, following questions and comments, the end date was extended to May 6, 2026 to support the transition.
According to Bose, an update will be released on May 6, 2026, the service's final date. This update will enable direct streaming from music service apps (via Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and AUX), system setup and configuration, remote control functions (play, stop, skip, volume), and grouping of multiple speakers, all without going through the cloud.
However, you will no longer be able to use presets or search for and play music services in the SoundTouch app. Security and software updates will also no longer be available, so we recommend using a trusted private network.
Changes and operation instructions related to the service termination are summarized in the guidance PDF below.
SoundTouch End-of-Service Guidance
(PDF file)
Bose has also published technical specification documents for the 'Bose SoundTouch Web API' to enable independent developers to create SoundTouch-enabled tools and features.
BOSE SOUNDTOUCH WEB API Bose Corporation Version 1.0
(PDF file) https://assets.bosecreative.com/m/496577402d128874/original/SoundTouch-Web-API.pdf
The news site Ars Technica described Bose's response to SoundTouch as a 'merciful end.' While ideally, Bose would support the product as long as it works, they acknowledged that this is a difficult approach in reality, as keeping older devices alive as technology evolves can be costly and can even discourage users from upgrading, putting them in a difficult position. Furthermore, they argued that the bare minimum smart device manufacturers should do before discontinuing a product is to open-source it so that existing customers can continue to enjoy it while using as many features as possible. They also suggested that measures like Bose's should become more common.
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