eBay CEO calls Amazon drone plans "a fantasy"

PanARMENIAN.Net - eBay CEO John Donahoe has publicly criticised Amazon's long-term plans for drone delivery, Digital Spy said.

In an appearance on Bloomberg TV, Donahoe compares Amazon's automated delivery plans for 2015 to his eBay Now service, highlighting the minimal short-term impact that it will have.

Donahoe said: "We're not really focusing on long-term fantasies, we're focusing on things that will change consumers' experience today."

The target of Amazon Prime Air is for unmanned drones to deliver packages within half an hour, to any location within a 10 mile radius. This would beat eBay Now's personal shopper system, which boasts a one-hour delivery time.

Donahoe did acknowledge that "bold innovation is important", adding: "The notion of saying you can get a product delivered to you in an hour, I'd call that a bold innovation."

Amazon is currently seeking FAA approval for its Prime Air system, while eBay Now is hoping to have expanded to 25 markets by the end of 2014.