Amazon Web Services (AWS) is developing a new enterprise collaboration service, powered by the voice-activated assistant, Alexa. The service, codenamed ‘Chime’, is designed to compete with the likes of Slack and Skype for Business. It aims to improve productivity by enabling users to set up meetings, share content, and communicate with colleagues via voice, video, and chat. Chime will also integrate with AWS’s existing services, including its cloud computing platform.

The project is being led by Gene Farrell, a former Amazon executive who was involved in the launch of Amazon’s business marketplace. Farrell’s return to Amazon after a stint at Smartsheet, a work management tool, was the subject of a legal dispute. Smartsheet sued Amazon for allegedly violating a non-compete agreement, but the case was resolved in Amazon’s favour.

Chime is part of Amazon’s broader push into the enterprise market, which includes services like Amazon WorkSpaces and Amazon WorkDocs. The company is betting that its expertise in cloud computing and artificial intelligence will give it a competitive edge in this space. However, it will face stiff competition from established players like Microsoft and Google, who also offer enterprise collaboration tools.

Go to source article: https://www.geekwire.com/2017/amazon-web-services-working-mysterious-alexa-powered-enterprise-collaboration-service/