Amazonia: December 3, 2018
December 3, 2018
The ecommerce giant has been busy. Selected items which caught our attention in Harrod’s Creek include:
Amazon and Germany: The Waltz Begins
We learned from the ever reliable source Bloomberg that Germany is looking at Amazon as a swinging bar door. The idea is that Amazon is a “gatekeeper.” We think the idea is that Amazon is in control, gets paid when customers buy something from the online catalog and gets paid when other vendors use Amazon to sell. Amazon may also get paid when some vendors pay Amazon to host their own Web sites. Amazon, of course, will cooperate, but it is unlikely that it will change its business model too significantly. Members of the Bundeskartellamt use Amazon too.
The Contrast: Amazon and Microsoft
At the same time Amazon was announcing that it has decided to release some of the technical goodies the company has provided to a certain US government agency for four years, Microsoft demonstrated its technical excellence too. Among Amazon’s more interesting revelations was that it is making its own chips. Microsoft, to respond to this challenge, said that it would release redesigned icons for its Office suite. Also, to counter the technical innovations in Amazon’s Big Data crunching ability, Microsoft also pulled a chess master move when it released a roadmap for its fur covered computer. Not the computer, a road map. Amazon is probably struggling to cope with these strategic body blows from Microsoft.
DeepLens under the Microscope
Not many online shoppers pay much attention to Amazon DeepLens. In my lectures for LE and intel professionals, most of those in the audience don’t either. But eight members of the US Congress want Amazon to explain its facial recognition technology. The issue is accuracy. At some point members of Congress will get the picture for Amazon’s policeware capabilities and come to appreciate the value of DeepLens like systems whether they operate at the levels of accuracy depicted on TV programs and in Netflix videos. Note to Congress: The train has left the station.
Amazon Is Edging into Health Care
Imagine. You need some sort of medical treatment. Do you want to go to an emergency room or let Amazon help you out. Amazon is in the prescription game. Now Amazon has a deal with Xealth, a spin out of Providence St Joseph Health. Ecommerce is coming to the doc’s office. Maybe health care delivery will come with a Prime membership and arrive on one’s door step like a new Amazon Basics T shirt?
Stephen E Arnold, December 3, 2018
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