SAN FRANCISCO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. leading online retailer Amazon announced Tuesday that its last-step Hub delivery locker service has been expanded to all apartments across the United States.

Amazon said over half a million residents in New York, San Francisco and some other locations already have access to the service of Hub by Amazon, the last-step delivery option for their packages safely stored and picked up by their right owners.

The official announcement came one year after the e-commerce giant rolled out the product across the country in July 2017.

The computerized locker system intended to be installed in apartment communities makes it possible for parcels from any sender, not just Amazon, to be secured even when recipients are not at home.

Amazon said the service makes delivery safe and easy as delivery personnel can drop the customer's packages to Amazon Hub lockers any time of the day, and the recipients can pick up their ordered items by typing in their passcode on the Hub's touchscreen panel.

"Building on Amazon's expertise in locker solutions, the Hub addresses frustrations from property owners, carriers and residents concerning package delivery," said Patrick Supanc, director of Amazon Worldwide Lockers and Pickup.

"The Hub simplifies delivery for residents, offering quick and secure access to packages, day or night," he said.

It also offers a single, convenient location for package drop-off and gives property managers time and resources back to focus on other priorities, Supanc explained.

Amazon cited some of its big name customers that have already signed up for the service on their properties, such as AvalonBay, Pinnacle, J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Equity Residential.