Were We All Just Punk’d By Amazon’s Jeff Bezos?

If you have consumed any media today, be it television, radio, the Internet and/or social media, I am willing to bet you’ve heard about the 60 Minutes interview with Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos that aired last night?

Even if you have not consumed any media today, I can only assume it was the talk at the water cooler this morning. Well, that and the ending to the Alabama-Auburn football game on Saturday. Or grandma’s dry turkey.

What was this “big surprise” that 60 Minutes and Bezos’ hyped leading up to the interview?

Here were a few people’s thoughts on Twitter…

Jeff Bezos’ big shocking reveal on 60 Minutes tonight: Amazon turning a profit?

— MG Siegler (@parislemon) December 1, 2013

Prediction for the Bezos surprise tonight: phone. — Mike Rosenwald (@mikerosenwald) December 1, 2013

1-Click Health Insurance #JeffBezosBigSurpriseGuesses

— Ivan the K™ (@IvanTheK) December 1, 2013

Well, the big surprise was same day delivery with Amazon Prime Air Drones. These little “octocopters” will deliver your goods in 30 minutes or less in the future.

Here is a drone at work;

I know, I have questions, too. Here are 4 common questions per Amazon’s FAQ page;

Q: Is this science fiction or is this real?

A: It looks like science fiction, but it’s real. From a technology point of view, we’ll be ready to enter commercial operations as soon as the necessary regulations are in place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively working on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Q: One day we’ll see a fleet of Prime Air vehicles in the sky?

A: Yes. One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today.

Q: When will I be able to choose Prime Air as a delivery option?

A: We hope the FAA’s rules will be in place as early as sometime in 2015. We will be ready at that time.

Q: How are you going to ensure public safety?

A: The FAA is actively working on rules and an approach for unmanned aerial vehicles that will prioritize public safety. Safety will be our top priority, and our vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies and designed to commercial aviation standards.

Bezos claims this is still 4 or 5 years away from being a reality, but could this really be a possibility? 30 minute delivery? By a mini helicopter that is controlled by GPS? This is Amazon and you never know with them, but..

What is today?

Not just another Monday after a 4-day holiday weekend. No, today is also Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year.

What is Amazon?

Only the World’s largest online retailer.

See the connection?

This 60 Minutes interview with Bezos about drones and 30 minutes (or less!) shipping seems to have been timed just right, huh?

Will we have drones flying around the sky and delivering our goods to us the same day?

I have no idea.

Was this a brilliantly timed marketing campaign?

No doubt about it.

via Business 2 Community http://www.business2community.com/social-media/just-punkd-amazons-jeff-bezos-0701240?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=just-punkd-amazons-jeff-bezos