Welcome to RepricerExpress’ weekly round-up of the top five stories from the world of Amazon and ecommerce.
Amazon is in talks to launch checking accounts: Carleton English at The New York Post reports that Amazon is reportedly chatting with big banks about creating a “checking-account-like product” for its customers. Details on the effort are scarce but the talks hint that there is no industry that Amazon isn’t willing to disrupt. Fresh off its acquisition of Whole Foods in August, Amazon has made moves to build its own delivery service that would rival United Parcel Service and FedEx. Amazon is also weighing up entering the health and prescription drugs business. Continue reading…
Amazon working to fix Alexa after users report random burst of ‘creepy’ laughter: Julie Carrie Wong at The Guardian reports that Amazon acknowledged on Wednesday that some of its Alexa-enabled devices have developed a new skill: creeping out their owners with unexpected and unwarranted bursts of robotic laughter. “We’re aware of this and working to fix it,” the company told the Verge. People began reporting the problem with their “smart” speakers on social media in recent weeks. Continue reading…
Amazon drones could become a reality in 2019: Chris Dawson at Tamebay reports that Reading company, Altitude Angel, could be the key to companies like Amazon to start widespread drone deliveries as early as 2019. NATS, the UK’s air traffic services provider, and fast-growing UK-based drone traffic management solutions company Altitude Angel, have entered a strategic partnership that lays the foundation for a future whereby drones and manned aircraft could safely co-exist in the UK’s busy skies. Continue reading…
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos overtakes Bill Gates to top billionaire list: Sky News reports that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has topped Forbes’ annual rich list for the first time, overtaking Microsoft’s Bill Gates. Forbes estimates that Mr Bezos, 54, who founded the online retail giant in 1994, is worth $112bn, up $39bn in last year – the biggest one-year gain ever. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has tumbled more than 200 places down the rankings thanks partly to a fall in some New York property values. Mr Bezos has seen his fortune swell over 12 months in which Amazon’s share value has nearly doubled. Continue reading…
Amazon is backing Ecobee, a smart thermostat company: Lora Kolodny at CNBC reports that smart thermostat maker Ecobee raised around $62 million (C$80 million) in a series C round of funding from investors including the Amazon Alexa Fund. The deal comes just one week after Amazon acquired video doorbell maker Ring in a deal reportedly valued at $1 billion. Amazon consequently made plans to stop selling competing products made by Google-owned Nest. The Toronto-based hardware company designed its smart thermostats to work in conjunction with software and systems from Amazon, Apple, IFTTT, Google and Samsung. Continue reading…
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