Amazon to Expand Silicon Valley Lab: More Mobile Devices Soon?

By Karla Robinson
September 24, 2012

Lab126 is where Amazon’s Kindle e-reader and Kindle Fire tablets were designed. A year ago, there were 500 Lab126 employees listed on LinkedIn, a number that has since increased to 937.
The research and design center could soon be getting a new influx of workers if the new 500,000 square-foot complex that Amazon has leased in Silicon Valley is any indication.
The online retail giant recently leased an office complex in Sunnyvale, California, which is expected to accommodate more than 2,500 employees. Amazon also applied for a permit to develop the interior of one of the buildings.
“Lab126’s expansion suggests Amazon is stepping up efforts to design more mobile devices, increasing competition with Apple, the maker of the iPhone and iPad,” reports Reuters.
“If you can bump up staffing 40 or 50 percent, the question is what’s it for?” notes Scott Tilghman, an analyst at Caris & Company. “Part of it could be tied to on-going evolution of the Kindle line of devices.”

No Comments Yet