Amazon is shutting down Amazon Chime, the company’s internal video-conferencing and messaging platform, and replacing it with Zoom for employee communication. Originally launched in 2017, Chime was Amazon’s attempt to enter the enterprise collaboration space, competing with services like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. However, the platform struggled to gain traction outside of Amazon’s internal use, leading to the decision to phase it out.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Amazon has officially announced that Chime will no longer accept new sign-ups after February 19, 2024, and the service will be fully discontinued by February 20, 2026. Until then, existing customers can continue to use the service, but Amazon is encouraging a transition to alternative platforms. Employees within the company have already begun shifting to Zoom as their primary conferencing tool, ending Amazon’s own business communication services.
The company acknowledged the shift in an internal memo, stating that the decision to retire Chime was based on the availability of better, third-party solutions that meet Amazon’s evolving needs. The memo further explained that when Amazon phases out a service, it is typically because either a more practical alternative exists or because partners offer solutions that better align with business and customer needs.
Amazon decided to retire Chime as the company reassesses its software and services portfolio. The shutdown follows another strategic move: the closure of the Amazon Appstore for Android devices. The Appstore shutdown indicates a pivot in Amazon’s approach, focusing more on its own hardware ecosystem—such as Fire TV and Fire Tablets—rather than competing with Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Chime initially intended to provide a seamless collaboration experience that integrated video conferencing, messaging, and scheduling into a single platform. However, the service never gained the external traction to justify continued investment. Unlike Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which offer deep integrations with productivity tools and enterprise software, Chime struggled to differentiate itself and deliver the same level of functionality. While Amazon Web Services (AWS) continued to support Chime for cloud-based meetings, the adoption of the service remained limited.
By moving away from underperforming services like Chime, Amazon is streamlining its focus on more core business areas, ensuring that resources are allocated toward high-impact products. With Zoom officially replacing Chime for internal meetings, Amazon’s employees will use a platform that already dominates the enterprise collaboration space.
Although Chime is being phased out, Amazon will continue offering Chime SDK — a set of communication APIs developers use to embed video and voice chat into their applications. While the standalone Chime app is disappearing, some of its underlying technology will still exist in other products.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Amazon’s decision to retire Chime and switch to Zoom signals a shift toward consolidation and efficiency in its business services. While Chime struggled to compete with industry leaders, Amazon will continue leveraging Zoom for employee collaboration while keeping its Chime SDK available for developers. This transition also aligns with Amazon’s recent focus on streamlining its software portfolio, including shutting down Amazon Appstore for Android devices. Expect more realignments in Amazon’s service offerings as the company evaluates which products remain viable and which get phased out.
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