AT&T CruiseCast satellite service halts activations, will refund customers
By Donald Melanson 
posted Nov 3rd 2009 3:51PM
posted Nov 3rd 2009 3:51PM
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.
Well....it's good that they're getting their money back.
I second that.
I double triple that.
Indeed.
Funnily enough, the website seems to still be taking activations. Well, up to the part where you enter your billing information, which is as far as I went.
Hmmm maybe they should sue themselves and sub to Verizon to get good coverage.
It's hard to see how this ever could have done well, when competing with sub-$100 portable DVD players.
looks like an alien automobile parasite
I guess AT@T has not paid attention to Sirius stock. In car satellite service was idiotic to begin with.
Ever since XM bought Sirius (which was a big mistake), it seems as though in-car satellite devices have been taking a turn for the worst, besides GPS.
And that's the end of that. *motion of dusting hands*
Kuei: Actually, Sirius acquired XM.
Er, that should be directed to TheMissingLink.
looks like this further proves Satellite radio/in car satellite technology is dead. had AT&T (then SBC, pre buyout of AT&T) done this in 2003-2005, when Satellite radio was at it's peak. it would had be great, but they decided to wait until Sirius and XM merged (a big mistake on both parts since it killed competition in the satellite radio market) and the recession that the country was going though since 2007. it was doomed when they announced it. and now internet radio is rising and AT&T dropping CruiseCast was the right move. now, since most wireless internet technology has brought internet radio to cars with radios that have a jack where you can plug in your iPhone or other wireless internet cell phones to play the streams of radio stations online. and not to mention companies that make car radios are trying to make internet radio friendly car radios where you can get a radio station webstream online without needing a cell phone or laptop computer to get the stations webstream up and running. so i say good riddance to satellite radio technology. it was great when it first came out in 2001, but it wore out it's welcome when Sirius-XM merged and not to mention internet radio's rise in the last few years.