Amazon.com, Inc. is a behemoth of a company that has permeated various aspects of our lives. Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, Amazon initially started as an online bookstore. However, its ambitions were far greater than just selling books. Bezos envisioned a company that would be "the Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices."
True to its vision, Amazon rapidly expanded its product offerings to include a vast array of goods and services. Today, it is the world's largest online retailer, selling everything from electronics and apparel to groceries and furniture. Amazon's marketplace platform allows third-party sellers to offer their products to Amazon's vast customer base, further expanding the range of products available.
In addition to its e-commerce dominance, Amazon has also established itself as a leader in the cloud computing market. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's leading provider of cloud services, offering a wide range of services to businesses of all sizes. AWS has been instrumental in enabling businesses to scale their operations and reduce costs.
Amazon has also made significant investments in the digital streaming market. Amazon Prime Video is a subscription service that offers a vast library of movies and TV shows, while Amazon Music offers a wide range of songs. These services have been instrumental in changing the way people consume media.
In recent years, Amazon has also been investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI). The company has developed a number of AI-powered products and services, such as the Alexa voice assistant, the Amazon Go cashierless grocery stores, and the Amazon Rekognition image and video analysis service. These products and services are indicative of Amazon's commitment to innovation and its desire to stay ahead of the curve.
Amazon is a company that is constantly evolving and expanding. Its impact on the global economy is undeniable, and its influence is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.
History
Here is a brief history of Amazon:
- 1994: Jeff Bezos founds Amazon as an online bookstore out of his garage in Bellevue, Washington.
- 1995: Amazon goes live on the World Wide Web.
- 1996: Amazon becomes a public company.
- 1997: Amazon begins selling music and videos.
-1998: Amazon expands internationally, opening online stores in the United Kingdom and Germany. - 1999: Amazon launches its third-party marketplace, allowing other businesses to sell their products on Amazon.com.
- 2002: Amazon launches Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing platform.
- 2005: Amazon launches Amazon Prime, a subscription service that offers free two-- day shipping on millions of items.
- 2007: Amazon launches the Kindle e-reader.
- 2009: Amazon acquires Zappos, an online shoe and clothing retailer.
- 2010: Amazon launches the Amazon Appstore for Android.
- 2012: Amazon acquires Kiva Systems, a robotics company that makes warehouse automation systems.
- 2014: Amazon launches Amazon Fire TV, a streaming media player.
- 2015: Amazon acquires Whole Foods Market, a natural and organic grocery store chain.
- 2017: Amazon launches Amazon Go, a cashierless grocery store.
- 2018: Amazon acquires Ring, a home security company.
- 2019: Amazon launches Amazon Music HD, a high-definition music streaming service.
- 2020: Amazon's market capitalization surpasses $1 trillion.
- 2021: Amazon becomes the second company in history to reach a market capitalization of $2 trillion.
Subsidiaries
Amazon owns a number of subsidiaries that were acquired through purchase.
Amazon Web Services (AWS): The world's leading cloud computing platform, providing a broad set of global compute, storage, database, analytics, application, and deployment services that help organizations move faster, lower IT costs, and scale applications.
Audible: A seller and producer of audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment.
Book Depository: An online bookstore with a focus on international shipping.
Goodreads: A social cataloging site for books.
IMDb: A database of information related to films, television programs, and video games.
Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics): A developer of warehouse automation systems.
Shopbop: A retailer of high-end fashion and beauty products.
Souq.com: A leading e-commerce platform in the Middle East.
Twitch: A live streaming platform for gamers and other entertainers.
Whole Foods Market: A natural and organic grocery store chain.
Woot!: A daily deals site that offers limited-time discounts on a variety of products.
Zappos: An online retailer of shoes, clothing, and other accessories.
Zoox: A developer of autonomous vehicles.