Australian drone startup Flirtey beats Amazon and Google

Australia

More than two years ago, Amazon chief executive officer Jeff Bezos spoke on 60 Minutes about delivering goods to homes with unmanned aircraft, or drone.

But a little Australian start-up now based near Reno, Nevada, has beat Amazon to the punch.

The company, called Flirtey, made its first household delivery via drone in July, from a 7-Eleven. Flirtey likes to say its partnership with the convenience store chain will save parents with sick children a late-night run to the store for medicine.

But the drone deliveries are conveniently made with insulated boxes. So a chili dog and Slurpee dropping from the sky to your home is within reach.

Flirtey co-founder and CEO Matt Sweeney says his company was able to jump ahead of Amazon by working with government regulators to get early approval to run tests. And those test runs have paid off. Sweeney boldly predicts delivery by drone will be a regular sight within a year.

Customers can request Domino’s delivery right to their door in New Zealand, where Flirtey is already in use. Driving to the store or having a delivery person come to you is much less convenient than this.

Flirtey’s service

While driving at rush hour, both of these conditions call for personal involvement. Flirtey’s service could be far more effective for businesses and customers. With limited time if they are able to refine it. Reno, Nevada’s desert is where the business continues to test its drones, having made its maiden delivery in the United States in July.

Moreover, Amazon’s Prime Air service is currently only a concept. The business, which made its announcement in 2013, is still awaiting FAA certification for its service. As of August, Amazon had started testing its drones in the less restricted United Kingdom.

Given that it would be unnecessary for pilots to accompany the unmanned octocopters to the customers’ homes, the US mandates Amazon to keep their drones in view.

They will stay in designated testing zones until such time as regulations change or Google and Amazon make the required changes. In the event that Flirtey keeps growing, these businesses might lose out on significant market share.