New Vodafone UK Broadband App Cuts Alexa from WiFi Booster

Customers of UK mobile operator and broadband ISP Vodafone, specifically those taking their original Pro Broadband (Pro 1) package for homes, have been informed that the included WiFi booster device will soon lose the use of its built-in Alexa voice assistant. This is because the new home broadband app they’re planning to launch doesn’t support it.

The Alexa supporting “Super Wi-Fi Plus” (mesh network) booster device was a headline feature when the Pro 1 package was upgraded to include it two years ago (here). But by comparison, the WiFi 6E capable kit that Vodafone bundle with the more recent – and more expensive – Pro II plans doesn’t make any mention of such a feature (here).

The provider has now informed customers of the original Pro I plan(s) with the booster that they’ll be “launching a new version of the home broadband app” and the new app “doesn’t fully support this device, therefore when the new app launches you won’t be able to use the Alexa skills or Vodafone Skills including Dinnertime” (credits to our readers Michael and Chris for spotting this).

Quite why Vodafone has done this is unclear (we’ve asked them to clarify and await their reply), but we suspect it might come down to any different sources (manufacturers) of past hardware and software, which may have changed between Pro I and Pro II (we’re not sure who exactly manufactures the latest kit). Such changes can sometimes create problems with the backwards compatibility of unique features.

In short, the Alexa skills capability will stop working from the 17th of November 2023 and that means the device will still function, but only for its core purpose of being a WiFi booster. Vodafone are not offering any free upgrades and compensation for the loss of what was, at least for some users, a significant feature. But they are at least giving customers the option to “change or cancel your plan within the next 30 days without paying a fee.“