India, Aug. 3 -- Smart refrigerators promise the future, but will they age as well as your fridge?When was the last time you asked how long a refrigerator's software would be supported? Chances are, you never have. Most of us choose a refrigerator based on its cooling performance, storage space, energy efficiency or, increasingly, the smart features printed on the box.

But modern refrigerators are no longer just cooling appliances. Many are internet-connected devices with operating systems, companion apps and cloud-based services that introduce an entirely new ownership question. What happens if the electronics fail before the compressor does, or if the software that powers those connected features is no longer supported years down the l...