Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Amazon's Hub makes receiving packages in an apartment block more convenient

By

amazon hub apartment mail delivery
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In recent years, we have seen Amazon expand into video streaming, grocery delivery, and even meal kits. Now, the online retail giant wants to take charge of the way people living in apartment blocks receive their mail with a new project called the Hub.

The Hub is a set of lockers that are designed to be placed in a communal area of an apartment block by the property owner, according to The Verge. Residents can then use a personalized pickup code to open the corresponding door and access their delivery.

Recommended Videos

The system is meant to make it easier for residents to access their packages at any time of day and ensure that there is always a place for their items to go in buildings where the mail carrier cannot access every residence. Amazon has stated that the Hub accepts deliveries from all major delivery companies.

Related

The Hub is something of an expansion of the self-service delivery options that Amazon already offers as part of its online storefront. The company’s Amazon Locker service allows customers to request that their order is delivered to a public location like a 7-Eleven store. Of course, the Hub differs in that it is not limited to deliveries of goods from Amazon.

There are several different options available for property owners who want to give their residents the benefits of the Hub. The starter model is six-feet wide and offers up 42 separate compartments, alongside an expansion module that adds an extra 23 lockers. Four different color variants are available, all of which are neutral tones intended to blend into their surroundings seamlessly.

For the time being, Amazon is not making information regarding the Hub’s pricing available to the public. Instead, it is asking interested parties to sign up for more information. Given that the system has to be kept online, it is reasonable to expect that some kind of monthly fee accompanies the initial setup costs.

The Hub demonstrates yet another way that Amazon is attempting to push beyond its status as the biggest name in online commerce. After all, CEO Jeff Bezos didn’t become the richest person on earth by staying in his lane.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brad Jones
Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Everything announced at Amazon’s 2022 Fall Event: new Echos, Fire TVs, Kindle Scribe, and more
Amazon Astro in a build with Ring Virtual Security Guard on its screen.

Amazon announced everything from new Echos, to security cameras, to Fire TVs, and more at its September 28 devices and services event. The new hardware underscores a commitment to what the company dubs "ambient intelligence:" every interaction should be intuitive, proactive, and personalized to help you enjoy the here and now. What's the secret sauce that lets Amazon deliver these contextual experiences? Sensors. Many of the products announced today come with sensors designed to help monitor and enhance a person's environment and experience. Of course, you can adjust the settings to still keep your data private.

Most of the products will be available later this year, with others (ahem, Astro) coming one day. We've rounded up everything Amazon announced today.
Amazon smart speakers

Read more
Why Amazon acquiring iRobot will make Roombas even better
The iRobot app overlaid on a Roomba.

You've probably seen the news by now that Amazon has signed an agreement to buy iRobot for $1.7 billion. There have been a lot of mixed reactions to the news, but it's important to understand exactly what the agreement means.

First of all, the deal isn't complete. As of now, iRobot is still an independent company -- only the groundwork has been laid. While it's highly unlikely that it will fall through, nothing is set in stone yet. According to Amazon's own press release, "Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by iRobot's shareholders."

Read more
You’re about to pay more for Amazon Prime
Amazon worker packaging products.

Amazon announced in its quarterly earnings call today that the cost of Amazon Prime is going to increase for the first time since 2018. Starting February 18, 2022, for new sign-ups — and effective after March 25, 2022, for current members when their next renewal comes around — the monthly fee for the Prime will increase by $2 to $15. Yearly memberships will increase $20 to $139.

"Amazon also continues to invest heavily in Prime," the company said in its earnings release. "In the last few years, Amazon has added more product selection available with fast, free, unlimited Prime shipping; more exclusive deals and discounts; and more high-quality digital entertainment, including TV, movies, music, and books."

Read more