AT&T CruiseCast satellite service halts activations, will refund customers

It wasn't too hard to see this one coming after reports of "financial difficulties" and a potential early demise starting cropping up last month, but it looks like AT&T's CruiseCast in-car satellite service is now officially done for. According to RaySat COO Mike Grannan (AT&T's partner in the service), all new activations have now ceased, and existing customers will soon apparently be able to get a refund for the cost of installation, de-installation, equipment and service. For those keeping track, the service just launched in June of this year and, while no installed base numbers seem to be available, it doesn't appear to have caused much more than a blip on the radar, with it hindered in part by a hefty $1,300 up-front cost.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 3rd 2009 10:10PM]

Sounds like someone misjudged the market for the service. Even if the equipment was free, I would have a tough time justifying satellite TV for a car for family use. I can see long haul truckers wanting something like this when they're away from home and trying to pass the time, but there's the issue of cost.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 4th 2009 4:47AM]

What is interesting is that the telephone companies, and maybe cable operators as well, claimed it would cost $1000 per household to deliver fiber to the home. Their assumption is that no homeowner would bare that expense, but yet AT&T thought someone would pay $1300 for this niche solution?

Just goes to show the many tentacles of AT&T doesn't know what each are doing.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 4th 2009 12:09PM]

Direct TV has a service for in your car. The equipment costs more, but the monthly service charge is next to nothing (assuming you have Direct TV at home).

They also have that SatGo thing. It only costs $500 and it's like a portable player.