Amazon Discontinues Astro for Business Device after Seven Months: Company Focuses on Home Version

In a surprising move, Amazon has discontinued its Astro for Business device, just seven months after launch. The security robot was designed for small and medium-sized businesses and offered features such as message delivery, a cargo bin capable of carrying up to 4.4 pounds, and more.

The reason behind the discontinuation is simple: Amazon wants to focus on its home version of Astro. Launched in 2021, the home version offers home security, pet detection, message delivery, and more. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company is fully committed to its vision of bringing world-class consumer robotics solutions to the home. To accelerate this progress and ongoing research, they have made the decision to wind down support for Astro for Business.

Although Amazon did not specify how many business customers were impacted by this discontinuation, it is clear that there were not enough customers for Amazon to continue investing 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 $20 per month that included Ring alarms and motion detectors; and an additional $99 per month for human agent support and monitoring.

Effective immediately, companies will no longer be charged the “Astro Secure” subscription fee. Additionally, affected customers will receive a $300 credit that can be used to support a replacement solution for their workplace. Customers will also be refunded any unused pre-paid “Astro Secure” fees.