Amazon is increasing the headcount at its top secret hardware development facility, Lab126, by at least 27% as it explores releasing wearable and connected home devices. According to Reuters, Amazon disclosed the information in a little-known government document. The personnel increase at the Lab126 devision, where the Kindle e-reader and Fire tablet were developed, is planned to take place over the next 5 years. Despite the lukewarm reception to the Amazon Fire phone, which recently saw a $200 price drop, Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, continues to believe that connected hardware is key to the company’s long term success. He believes such products are necessary to help provide customers seamless access to Amazon’s merchandise and services. With the Fire phone taking 4 years to develop, it is unlikely we will be seeing any Amazon wearables in the immediate future, but it provides an interesting roadmap of what Lab126 feels are important technologies to explore. As of the end of 2013, the division had almost 3,000 full-time employees.
Leave a comment
