Amazon has decided to discontinue its Astro for Business device, a security robot designed for small and medium-sized businesses, just seven months after its launch. The reason for this decision, according to an email sent to customers and employees on Wednesday, is that Amazon wants to focus more on its home version of Astro. Launched in 2021, the home version offers features such as home security, pet detection, message delivery, and a cargo bin capable of carrying up to 4.4 pounds.
In a statement provided to TechCrunch, an Amazon spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to our vision of bringing world-class consumer robotics solutions to the home. To accelerate our progress and ongoing research to make Astro the best in-home robot, we’ve made the decision to wind down support for Astro for Business. We’re excited about the in-home experiences we’re inventing for Astro and look forward to sharing more in the future.”
Effective immediately, Astro for Business robots will no longer function starting on September 25th. Customers are recommended to recycle their security robots through Amazon’s recycling program, which will cover shipping costs. Although Amazon did not specify how many business customers were affected by this discontinuation, it is clear that there were not enough customers for them to continue investing in these devices.
The Astro for Business robots were priced at $2350 and came with three subscription plans: “Astro Secure” priced at $60 per month offered features like programming routes and receiving alerts; two optional subscriptions allowed users to pay $20 per month for features like Ring alarms and motion detectors; and an additional $99 per month for human agent support and monitoring. With immediate effect, companies will no longer be charged the “Astro Secure” subscription fee. Additionally, customers will receive a $300 credit that can be used towards supporting a replacement solution in their workplace. They will also be refunded any unused pre-paid “Astro Secure” fees.
Overall, it seems that Amazon has realized that there is not enough demand from businesses for this particular product line and has decided to focus more on its home version instead.