BY Reuters < 1 MINUTE READ

AMAZON.COM paid about $90million (R1.08billion) to acquire the maker of Blink home security cameras late last year, in a secret bet on the start-up’s energy efficient chips, people familiar with the matter said.

The deal’s rationale and price tag underscore how Amazon aims to do more than sell another popular camera, as analysts had thought.

The online retailer is exploring chips exclusive to Blink that could lower production costs and lengthen the battery life of other gadgets, starting with Amazon’s Cloud Cam and potentially extending to its family of Echo speakers. Amazon views its in-house devices as key to deepening its relationship with shoppers.

– Reuters