In this episode of The Vergecast, smart home reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy sits down with Ken Fairbanks, a loyal Insteon customer who stepped in to buy the company after it went bankrupt. They discuss the evolution of smart lighting protocols, the operational missteps that derailed the pioneer brand, and how Fairbanks and an engaged user base worked together to bring the platform back from the brink.
For smartphone users, mobile devices are the primary control center for connected living. When smart hardware companies struggle or shut down their servers, mobile companion apps and automations can instantly break. Following the business realities of the smart home ecosystem helps phone buyers choose stable platforms and accessories that will reliably sync with their handsets over the long haul.
Tune in to the full episode of The Vergecast to hear the inside story of reviving a legacy hardware brand and the lessons learned along the way.
[Listen to the episode on The Vergecast](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/257/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP3319566166.mp3?updated=1754935743)
