Amazon Mayday

The Verge:

Amazon may be trotting out new versions of its Kindle Fire tablets and an updated software platform for them, but its also introducing a unique new feature that’s arguably the most interesting part of the whole deal. Called Mayday, the feature is a built-in remote support and instant helpline for every Kindle Fire HDX. If it sounds like a virtual version of Apple’s vaunted Genius Bar, that’s because it kind of is.

Mayday is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is accessed by a dedicated button found right in the tablet’s Quick Settings menu. A tap on that button connects the user with a live support representative in 15 seconds or less, no matter what time or day of the year it is. Once connected, the user can see the support representative in a small window on their screen, and the representative can see whatever app or screen is on the user’s tablet (Amazon was sure to point out to us that while you can see the rep, they can’t see you). Support techs can guide users with visual cues and auditory prompts, and if those fail, they can even control the tablet remotely to resolve the issue.

Do you remember when you could call 1-800-FACETIME to video chat with an Apple representative?