Skip to main content

Amazon Astro gets a day job with Astro for Business

Astro for Business in patrol mode.
Amazon

Amazon Astro — the adorable household robot from Amazon that’s yet to see a public release — is gaining a new family member today with the launch of Astro for Business. A pilot program for the homebot began last year, and it looks like the unique gadget is ready to go live following its success.

Astro for Business differs from the standard Amazon Astro in some big ways. For one, it’s specifically designed to work as a smart security solution for small and medium-sized businesses. That means it’s possible to do away with complex security systems and instead opt for this roving robot. The quirky product combines AI software with hardware such as a periscope camera to help prevent break-ins and quickly alert you if something goes awry.

Three subscription plans are available for Astro for Business, allowing you to optimize its performance to your specific needs. The cheapest package is Ring Protect Pro at $20 per month, introducing a 180-day video history and the ability to sync Astro with your Ring Alarm. Astro Secure costs $60 per month and adds autonomous patrolling to Astro, while the Virtual Security Guard package costs $99 per month and lets professional agents respond to alerts from Astro.

Astro for Business patrolling near bikes.
Amazon

Astro for Business costs $2,350 and comes with a free four-month trial of Ring Protect Pro.

While it’s great to see Astro for Business getting a mainstream release, it’s a bit peculiar the original Amazon Astro is still available by invitation only. The robot is largely designed to do many of the same things as Astro for Business — including acting as a security guard — but we’re yet to get a firm release date from Amazon.

At any rate, the arrival of Astro for Business signals good news for the consumer-oriented Amazon Astro, as the two share much of the same DNA. We’ve reached out to a representative for comment about an Amazon Astro release date and will update this story when we hear back.

For now, you’ll be limited to requesting an invitation or picking up Astro for Business.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
The Amazon Echo Hub is almost the whole-home hub I’ve always wanted
Amazon Echo Hub.

I’ve long dreamed about having a proper sort of home hub. One that’s always on, always showing me the things I want to control at any given time. Not huge. Not obtrusive.

The new Amazon Echo Hub, one several new Echo devices announced at Amazon's 2023 devices event at HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia, very much seems to fit that bill. It’s a touchscreen that you’ll use to control all your things.

Read more
I tried the Amazon Echo Show 8, a smart display that transforms when you get close
The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8.

If you’ve ever used the last Amazon Echo Show 8, you mostly have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to get with this updated model: a decent screen with which to see things, a surprisingly good speaker.

And that’s still true going into this new iteration, one of several new Echo devices announced today. Even in our crowded, noisy demo area after Amazon's fall devices event at its new HQ2 building in Arlington, Virginia, you could hear music (the sort your kids love) just fine. The speaker on this thing is still surprisingly good.

Read more
Amazon Astro: everything you need to know about this home robot
Amazon Astro following a person through a door.

Amazon Astro came as a surprise when it was revealed in September 2021. The quirky device does a little bit of everything, serving as a robot companion that boasts facial recognition, impressive navigation skills, and tons of useful home security features.

But a lot has changed with Astro since it was first announced, and it's gotten some new competition in the form of EBO X. Here’s a look at everything we know about Astro, including how you can get your hands on it and add it to your home.
Designed to rove around the home

Read more