In a surprising move, Amazon has discontinued its Astro for Business security robot just seven months after its launch. The company announced the decision in an email to customers and employees on Wednesday. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the reason behind this decision is to focus on the development of its home version of Astro.
Launched in 2021, the home version of Astro offers a range of features such as home security, pet detection, message delivery, and a cargo bin capable of carrying up to 4.4 pounds. Amazon is fully committed to its vision of bringing world-class consumer robotics solutions to homes and wants to invest more time and resources into improving the in-home experience of Astro.
Effective immediately, customers will no longer receive support for Astro for Business robots. However, Amazon recommends that customers recycle the robots through their recycling program, which will cover shipping costs. Although the company did not provide specific details about how many business customers were affected by this discontinuation, it is clear that there were not enough customers to justify continued investment in the devices.
The Astro for Business robots were priced at $2,350 and came with three subscription plans: “Astro Secure,” priced at $60 per month; an optional subscription for Ring alarms and motion detectors for $20 per month; and another optional subscription for human agent support and monitoring at $99 per month. Effective immediately, companies will no longer be charged the “Astro Secure” subscription fee. Additionally, customers will receive a $300 credit that can be used towards replacing their workplace solution with another product or service offered by Amazon. Customers will also receive a refund for any unused pre-paid “Astro Secure” fees.
In conclusion, while it’s disappointing news for business owners who purchased an Astro for Business robot just seven months ago, it’s clear that Amazon is committed to investing more resources into improving their home version of Astro. As such, they have made the difficult decision to discontinue support for their business version of the robot. Customers are encouraged to recycle their robots through Amazon’s recycling program or use their $300 credit towards replacing their workplace solution with another product or service offered by Amazon.
