Initially, the feature will be available at two Amazon Go stores in Seattle, and the company plans to add it to more Amazon Go stores in the coming months, spread across Seattle, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. Amazon plans to bring it to other retailers in the future – and possibly offices such as Office Fees and Stadiums.
The company deliberately chose Palm’s identity over another biometric because it could be matched very accurately, and the customer would have to make a deliberate gesture to use it, he said.
“I encourage people to try this, see how they like the experience, and then go from there,” Kumar said.
Before attempting it, users must insert a credit card into an Amazon One device and hold a palm over it, downwards, so that it can be scanned. In an effort to make the system as accurate as possible, Kumar said, the camera takes tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny parts and palm straps, and captures some skin details like shiro, which are not visible in typical photographs.
After registration, the user places his palm on top of the Amazon One scanner to enter the store. Then, whatever they take will be automatically charged with a credit card connected to their palm. Users will be able to use the same palm to enter and shop at multiple stores, Kumar said. Initially, users will be able to link one or both credit cards to Palms; Eventually, Kumar said, there could be an option to hand out one credit card in each palm.
Amazon One is currently available at Seattle’s The Mazon Go stores, on 7th Avenue and Blanchard Street, and in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Amazon has not yet said when it will be available at other retailers, or how much it will charge other businesses to use the technology.