Idleaire cranking back up?

Knox-based Idleaire, which seemed to go up in a puff of smoke from investors' money, may be toying with an attempt at a comeback. The KNS reports a cryptic hint appeared on the company's website.

IdleAire idled, now stops completely

IdleAire, kept alive by private investors who sought to sell its assets the past two years, announced it's ceasing all operations and laying-off about 315, including 60 in the Knoxville area. The company has operated in up to 34 states, providing truckers creature comforts, including Internet access, at rest stops, allowing them to stop running their engines to keep cabs warm, etc. The KNS reports.

'Will the real Idleaire please step forward'

Okay, scratch my earlier: It's Knoxville-based Idleaire Inc., created with assets bought at auction from Idleaire Technologies, which is in Chapter 7, that is salivating over ARRA grants awarded 13 states, including Tennessee, where Idleaire hopes to earn a share for its truckstop power, Internet, cooling and other services delivered to truck cabs. The latest KNS story here. Earlier Idleaire reports here. Christina Sanchez's broader story today in The Tennessean mentions Idleaire, also, but the angle is truckstop electrification as an anti-diesel pollution story. The Tennessean's stories are usually not available longer than a week or so, before they go behind the paid-archive wall, so apologies in advance.

Judge: IdleAire shareholders should have low expectations

The Knoxville News Sentinel's update on IdleAire's debtor-in-possession bankruptcy status leaves little hope for shareholders in the tech company that they'll salvage anything. Here's our earlier post on IdleAire and an earlier statement from the company.