Amazon Conference Showcases Another Side of the Retailer’s Business - Digits - WSJ

A big study day for Google and Microsoft

"Indeed, Andy Jassy, the AWS chief, is set to announce during his keynote address on Wednesday that Amazon now counts more than 1 million businesses and government agencies among its customers. The company has previously said its active customers numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

Jassy declined in an interview to disclose AWS annual revenue, nor would he say whether the unit is profitable. Analysts estimate AWS generates at least $4 billion a year in sales.

AWS re:Invent, which features nearly 300 sessions and a keynote address from Werner Vogels, Amazon’s chief technologist, is not meant to drum up new business, Jassy said. “This is not a sales and marketing conference for us, it really is an education conference."

Amazon Conference Showcases Another Side of the Retailer’s Business - Digits - WSJ