Google blames Sonos for device activation errors, Sonos claps back

Google and Sonos are at it yet again, with Google blaming Sonos for a “small number” of smart-household activation errors endured by Pixel customers, although Sonos shot again that the hiccups are a “direct result” of Google’s alleged IP infractions against the wireless speaker maker.

In a support observe initial spotted by 9to5Google, an unnamed Google group supervisor wrote that a “small number” of users striving to established up “devices” with their Pixel telephones may well be “unable to do so” owing to “an interruption by Sonos.”

The Google community manager added that buyers could possibly get a “Device needs to be activated before setup” error when hoping to configure “a machine that hasn’t been linked to Wifi for some time (or ever).”

Sounds like a relatively routine assist problem, but in a statement to TechHive, Google also took a swipe at Sonos, accusing the wireless speaker maker of “[using] the lawful procedure in a way that intentionally makes problems for those end users.”

The statement is plainly referring to Sonos’s modern authorized victory above Google, in which a U.S. trade commission ruled that Google experienced violated five Sonos patents relating to networked and synchronized household speakers.

Google added that “if needed,” it will give “replacement devices” or retail outlet credit history to end users possessing issues activating their units.

In this article is Google’s whole assertion:

This selection quickly impacts a compact number of Pixel people who established up a speaker or display screen for the 1st time with the Gadget Utility Application. We will function with them to minimize disruption. Our assistance groups are on hand to take care of any difficulties they have and if required, we will ship substitution gadgets or provide a Google retail outlet credit history. Above the many years, we have labored tough to make positive that our shared shoppers would have a constructive working experience and are upset that Sonos proceeds to use the lawful process in a way that intentionally creates concerns for these consumers.

Arrived at for remark by TechHive, a Sonos rep returned hearth, contacting the Pixel challenge “the direct result” of Google’s actions.

Right here is the total Sonos statement:

Google’s Pixel disruption is the direct end result of its determination to infringe Sonos’ patents fairly than license them, as the Intercontinental Trade Fee dominated. It is fully Google’s conclusion to inflict more hurt to its shoppers somewhat than behave responsibly, and it’s the height of arrogance to test to blame the enterprise whose improvements it is misappropriating.

Following the January 2022 trade courtroom ruling ruling, Google abruptly pulled some vital options from its Nest speakers, which include the skill to adjust the quantity of Google speaker teams applying the Google Residence app, Google Assistant voice instructions, or on a Nest Hub screen.

Soon immediately after the U.S. trade commission ruling, Sonos Chief Lawful Officer Eddie Lazarus advised TechHive that Google might “degrade or reduce product or service characteristics in a way that circumvents the importation ban that the ITC has imposed,” introducing that Google “can—as other organizations have currently done—pay a reasonable royalty for the systems it has misappropriated.”

Likely back again to the gadget activation challenge, the Google assist be aware advises Google Television set and Android Television buyers to “use the setup stream on your Tv set to activate your gadget,” whilst individuals “outside the US or Canada” can activate their products making use of Google’s System Utility app. But customers in the U.S. and Canada will have to make contact with buyer aid, the submit says.

As 9to5Google speculates, the Pixel activation difficulty with hardly ever or by no means connected sensible units could stem from the fact that they’re saddled with previous firmware.

Up-to-date shortly following publication with a comment from Google.