Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
Look Out Amazon, Here Comes...Rakuten?
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten announced on Tuesday it is acquiring Ebates for $1 billion.
The acquisition, which Rakuten hinted at last week, is part of the Japanese company’s push to grow its base beyond its domestic market and hopefully, become a global player. Having made some $1.2 billion acquisitions to date along these lines, this is Rakuten’s most ambitious move to date.
However, investors are dubious that the company can absorb yet another foreign acquisition, much less one the size of Ebates, despite Rakuten’s strong cash position.
Then there is the ever-present Amazon, which dominates the e-commerce market in the U.S. Few believe it will falter in the face of Chinese giant Alibaba, much less a Rakuten-Ebates combo.
Rakuten Goes Forth
Not surprisingly, Rakuten says it is undaunted. For starters, it has assembled a very interesting mix of acquisitions. There is messaging app Viber, which it purchased for $900 million in February, the Canadian ebook offering Kobo, Spanish video service Wuaki.tv, Viki, a digital content platform and Buy.com.
Now it has picked up Ebates.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2014/09/...ere-comes-rakuten/
Das führende KI-Start-up dürfte in einer neuen Finanzierungsrunde mit über 100 Milliarden Dollar bewertet werden. Mit Nvidia und Apple könnten laut Medienberichten zwei weitere Tech-Riesen einsteigen.
30.08.2024 - 09:48 Uhr
New York. Das führende Start-up für Künstliche Intelligenz (KI), OpenAI, darf auf weitere prominente Investoren hoffen. Wie die Agentur Bloomberg und die Zeitung „Wall Street Journal“ am Donnerstag berichteten, könnten sich der Chipentwickler Nvidia und der Tech-Riese Apple an einer neuen Finanzierungsrunde beteiligen.
Bereits am Mittwoch war über eine geplante Runde berichtet worden, die OpenAI mit mehr als 100 Milliarden Dollar bewerten könnte. Diese soll vom Wagniskapitalgeber Thrive angeführt werden, auch der bisherige Ankerinvestor Microsoft könnte sich demnach beteiligen.
https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/it-internet/...031t00000PCrtuAAD
July 16, 2024
We spoke with Rakuten International Chief Operation Officer, Adrienne Down Coulson on the sidelines of Rakuten Optimism US in Carlsbad, California about how the company is creating a more equitable employee experience across regions. Coulson also shared her thoughts on Rakuten International’s European expansion, the launch of Rakuten+ and synergies between the company’s e-commerce and entertainment businesses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q83dmYZ164c
Read our Deep Dive report “The Open RAN ecosystem gathers steam. The future RAN is open” where we tried to address many of the outstanding questions, with the help of eleven vendors and operators: NEC, Vodafone, Ciena, Analog, Fujitsu, Rakuten Symphony, Picocom, Dish, Verizon, TIP, and Radisys. You can get the report for free, and read or watch the conversations here.
https://senzafili.com/open-ran/
SINGAPORE, 2 SEP 2024– Klink.cloud , a leading omnichannel contact center platform in APAC, announces an official partnership with Rakuten Viber, the global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication. This collaboration empowers businesses across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) by incorporating Viber Chatbots into klink.cloud's unified platform, including email, chat, social media, SMS, and telephony.
The collaboration ensures a consistent and efficient customer experience, particularly in key APAC regions like the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, while also offering cost-effective, secure communication on a user-friendly platform. Klink.cloud’s expertise in Conversational AI development, combined with Rakuten Viber’s capabilities, enables businesses to deploy Generative AI that handle inquiries, automate responses, and provide 24/7 support.
https://www.klink.cloud/post/...nhance-business-communication-in-apac
In Europe, the revenue in the Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) market) market is projected to reach US$490.20m in 2024.
It is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 9.20%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$638.40m by 2027.
By 2027, the number of users in the Free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) market) market is expected to amount to 184.6m users.
In Europe, the rise of FAST platforms like Pluto TV and Rakuten TV has revolutionized the way viewers consume free ad-supported streaming TV, creating a new era of digital entertainment.
https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/...rted-streaming-tv-fast/europe
By Valeria Levantino
Communications Manager Rakuten Symphony
Joshua Gillman, Senior Director of Strategy and Executive Office at Rakuten Symphony, shares his journey from tech consulting to shaping the future of telecom.
Tell us about your journey to Rakuten Symphony.
I’m originally from Wokingham, a town about an hour away from London, UK. After graduating, I ventured into tech consulting, working on various projects, including deploying software for telcos and assisting banks with data migrations. This experience sparked my interest in the broader strategic aspects of technology deployment. To deepen my understanding of strategy and delivery, I pursued an MBA at London Business School. This education provided me with a comprehensive view of business transformations and industry impacts, exposing me to strategic processes that shape successful companies.
As I considered my next career move, Rakuten Symphony caught my attention. I was drawn to its mission of democratizing connectivity and its innovative approach to transforming the industry with cutting-edge technologies. The company's commitment to leveraging advanced tech to revolutionize the telecom sector presented an exciting and challenging opportunity for meaningful contribution.
In August 2022, I joined Rakuten Symphony and relocated from the UK to Japan with my wife and daughter. Moving to Japan and joining Rakuten Symphony has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The company's supportive community and innovative work environment made the transition seamless. I've been impressed by the collaborative culture and the passion of my colleagues, who are all dedicated to driving progress and innovation.
What does your daily job involve?
As the Senior Director of Strategy and Executive Office, I’m part of the strategy team, working to unify the various innovations and strategies across different Business Units into one cohesive company story. My role involves acting as an interface between the BU Presidents and Rakuten Symphony management to ensure a common understanding of our goals. This includes business planning, deciding on department targets, targeting goals, unblocking cross-department challenges, and shaping our sales strategy narrative for customers.
A significant part of my job is to bridge the communication and strategy gaps between various departments, ensuring everyone is aligned and moving towards the same objectives. This means I spend a lot of time collaborating with the heads of different BUs to understand their unique challenges and opportunities, and then conveying these insights to the management. By doing this, I help craft a unified vision that supports both our short-term targets and long-term aspirations.
In addition to strategic alignment, my role also involves a lot of problem-solving. Whether it’s unblocking cross-departmental challenges or finding innovative solutions to streamline our operations, I’m constantly working to keep all parts of the organization moving smoothly. This often requires balancing immediate needs with future goals, ensuring that our strategies are both effective and adaptable.
Essentially, we are the glue that holds the different departments together, fostering collaboration and ensuring that our collective efforts contribute to the overarching success of Rakuten Symphony.
What has been your best day so far?
Since joining Rakuten Symphony, some of my most memorable days have been at Leadership Summits. These events showcase the exchange of ideas and the passion driving the company forward. Being involved in preparing for these events and facilitating discussions is truly inspiring.
One standout moment was the Leadership Summit in Barcelona this year. What made this day particularly special was seeing everyone bring their ideas to the table and engage in meaningful discussions. This experience underscored the innovative drive and collaborative spirit at Rakuten Symphony, making me proud to be part of the team and excited for our future.
Is there anything that inspires you?
One quote that inspires me is by Elon Musk: “If something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor.” This sentiment resonates deeply with me and reflects the spirit of our company. It’s not easy, and often people think you’re crazy for trying, but progress requires bold moves, and this company truly embodies that message.
On a more personal level, my family is my greatest source of inspiration. Seeing my daughter and wife every morning motivates me to be the best version of myself. I want to make them proud and set an example through my work and dedication.
Do you have any hobbies?
Family time is very important to me, especially with my young daughter. I try to spend as much time with her as possible, cherishing these moments as she grows. Alongside family activities, I have a strong interest in sports. Recently, I picked up jiu-jitsu, and it's been thrilling to be a beginner again. I enjoy the challenge of learning something new and the physical and mental discipline it requires.
I also play futsal with some colleagues from Rakuten. It's a great way to stay active and socialize with people from different departments. Beyond sports, I listen to a lot of podcasts, particularly those focused on technology, to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations.
Any plans for what you want to do next?
I’m eager to build my experience in strategic decision-making and positively impact the company's direction. Personally, I plan to take on bigger and more challenging projects to grow as a leader within the team. My goal is to bring new positive impacts every day and learn from each step of the way.
By taking on more significant challenges and fostering innovation, I aim to enhance my skills and make a meaningful impact on our team's growth and success.
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...conversation-with-joshua-gillman
By Kamile Bigenyte September 2, 2024
Additionally, the FCC has earmarked up to $900 million in incentives for networks implementing Open RAN (Open Radio Access Network) technology. These moves aim to foster innovation and enhance network efficiency.
https://voip.review/2024/09/02/...ves-9b-rural-5g-innovates-open-ran/
Rakuten hat viele sinnvolle Features auf der Website und bietet den besten Service und Support aller Netzwerke. Die Auswahl der Advertiser steigt wöchentlich um kleinere und größere Brands und Retailer.
Michael Elschenbroich
CEO, stylink
https://rakutenadvertising.com/de-de/affiliate/
Rakuten Advertising has provided strategic recommendations that have helped us to optimize campaigns and test new acquisition strategies with publishers. Their expertise in the vertical and their strong partner relationships have led to a highly successful program.
Jessica Joyner
AVP, Digital Acquisition Strategy at Wells Fargo
https://rakutenadvertising.com/affiliate/
Die Wahl eines Affiliate-Netzwerks ist nicht einfach. Gebühren und Funktionen sind wichtig, aber es ist die Wahl eines echten Partners, die den Unterschied ausmacht. Rakuten Advertising ist ein großartiger Geschäftspartner, der in der Lage war, sich an unsere Marken- und Geschäftsziele anzupassen und sein Netzwerk zum Arbeiten zu bringen. Wir waren in der Lage, unsere Präsenz in Europa auszubauen, ohne ein großes Budget oder zusätzliches Personal zu benötigen, was ohne einen Partner wie Rakuten nicht möglich gewesen wäre.
Niki Harrold
Leitender Marketingleiter, RAD Power Bikes
https://rakutenadvertising.com/fr-fr/affiliation/
June 2024
Thomas Patchett, Japanese Equity Specialist
Donald Farquharson, Head of Japanese Equities
From paper to platforms: a domestic digitalisation story
Whether it's due to the limited supply of labour, rising wages, or the need for productivity gains and scale advantages, Japan is slowly but surely shifting online.
Having lagged other developed markets across most areas of digitalisation, such as ecommerce, cashless payments, software-as-a-service, and general enterprise IT investment, Japan has now recognised the critical need to develop these labour-saving solutions. This shift opens up significant long-term growth opportunities. Although this opportunity is still in its infancy – and is therefore far less prominent than in other developed markets – it is often accessible at little to no premium to the broader market.
Rakuten's ecosystem of services
Rakuten is home to Japan’s largest points-based ecosystem with over 100 million users accessing upwards of 70 online services (from hotel bookings to brokerage and banking). Despite consistently growing its top line for 27 years since inception, the company trades at a mere 0.6x sales, which is half that of the market average, because of the capital-intensive decision it made to develop its mobile phone network. Although this new venture required significant outlay, an accelerating pick-up in paying subscribers could soon see the network become profitable by year-end. As a standalone, we believe it could double the enterprise value of the group. Beyond that, we think it has the potential to add value to the entire ecosystem. By adding another customer touchpoint, it is improving its access to data and raising the potential to cross-sell more of its services.
https://www.bailliegifford.com/en/ireland/...xt-opportunity-10048027/
Since migrating to Rakuten Advertising and its fully affiliate managed service – our programme has gone from strength to strength. Rakuten Advertising’s strategies have helped grow the programme and we have been able to really move the dial. Our account management team have felt like a true extension of our team and have led to the affiliate channel becoming our strongest growing channel!
Simon Porter
Digital Marketing Manager, Ann Summers
https://rakutenadvertising.com/en-uk/affiliate/
He noted it is now in the third phase of its launch, which is telling customers about its improved network quality. It is working to a target of 10 million subscribers by end-2025.
Symphony revenue jumped 55.3 per cent in Q1/2024 to $118 million.
https://www.mobileworldlive.com/rakuten/...ils-network-quality-gains/
1 month ago
Ray Sharma
Rakuten Mobile and Cisco announced a major milestone for network infrastructure in support of efforts to build a better, more inclusive internet for the future.
The two companies have collaborated to successfully complete one of the world's largest Segment Routing over IPv6 Micro Segment ID (SRv6 uSID) IP transport network migrations, unlocking a new era of unprecedented speed, agility and on-demand services*2 for Japanese businesses nationwide.
Rakuten Mobile has already adopted SRv6 in its IP transport network, which connects base stations to its core network. In traditional networks adopting IPv6, the standard for IP addresses, priority is given to packet processing via the shortest possible route. SRv6 assigns Segment IDs to packets, enabling scalability for networks and other functions. By adopting uSID, Rakuten Mobile now has access to more refined and efficient methods of packet processing.
Utilizing a robust foundation built on SRv6 uSID-based IP transport networks, Rakuten Mobile launched its ultra-high-speed internet connection service 'KOSOKU Access' in January 2024 as a fixed network service for enterprise customers. This enables customers to access fast, low-latency on-demand services in a secure and reliable business infrastructure with a 24/7 network maintenance system. This enables KOSOKU Access customers across Japan to effectively scale their connectivity usage depending on their evolving business demands.
https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/...etwork-migrations
Symphony revenue jumped 55.3 per cent in Q1/2024 to $118 million.
https://www.mobileworldlive.com/rakuten/...ils-network-quality-gains/
Rakuten Symphony sales dropped 18 per cent to $85 billion in Q2/2024.
https://www.mobileworldlive.com/rakuten/...criber-growth-accelerates/
The $ 203 million revenue of Rakuten Symphony in the first half of 2024 are $ 406 million on a yearly base in 2024 (and Q4 was the strongest quarter of Rakuten Symphony in the past).
If you take a look at the market volume from Juniper Research of $ 2 billion, the market-cap of Rakuten Symphony is more than 20%.
“Juniper Research release a press release to promote its new Global Operator O-RAN Strategies, 2024-2029 report. The headline data point is that ‘annual operator investment into O-RAN (Open Radio Access Networks) will reach $11 billion in 2029; rising from $2 billion in 2024.’ So that’s 5.5x growth over five years at a CAGR of over 40%.”
https://www.telecoms.com/open-ran/...ng-will-increase-over-5x-by-2029
https://www.lionheartv.net/2024/09/...he-upcoming-shopping-festivals/
by Viktor Hendelmann
https://productmint.com/how-does-rakuten-make-money/
9 hours ago
In the world of AI, 12 months is an eternity – so much was clear from the exciting new tech on display at the recent 2024 Rakuten Optimism conference.
One panel discussion titled AI Accelerates Innovation: The New Frontier of Creativity kicked off with a video introduction from two hyper-real AI avatars, who gave the Optimism audience an effortless welcome in 10 different languages.
The avatars then relinquished the stage to their flesh-and-blood counterparts – Rakuten Group Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Naho Kono and Samurai Inc. Creative Director Kashiwa Sato, the creative director and graphic designer behind many iconic Japanese brands such as Seven-Eleven, Uniqlo and Rakuten.
The session served as a follow-up to a discussion from Rakuten Optimism 2023, when Kono and Sato were joined by Kyoto University physicist Professor Koji Hashimoto to discuss the potential of AI tools. This year, Kono and Sato welcomed Professor Jun Suzuki, director of the Center for Language AI Research at Tohoku University.
From potential to reality
“It’s been barely two years since generative AI really started taking off,” Suzuki told the panel. “We can do so much more now. And I think you can all imagine that it will continue to improve drastically.”
The previous year’s discussion saw the panelists marvel at the text generation capabilities of AI, revealing that they had used a large language model to come up with the title of the conference session.
This year, Kono took the opportunity to show off a range of areas in which Rakuten has already begun effectively applying AI tools for business. These included advertising campaigns for Rakuten Beauty and Rakuten Fashion Week, an AI character to promote Rakuten Card, and a simplified ID verification process for Rakuten Mobile.
“This time last year, we were talking about potential applications. Now we’re actually here, applying AI,” Sato commented. “In this case, it’s not that the output has changed drastically, but rather the tools. So it doesn’t look like anything has changed from the customer’s perspective. But going forward, as the tools change, so will the output and ideas. I’m looking forward to that future.”
Suzuki researches artificial intelligence, natural language processing, machine learning and how computers are able to gain understanding of human language. He expressed a belief that in the near future AI will impress us even further.
“In the future, AI could become more interactive. We could make things in a dynamic way,” he predicted. “When you generate things in advance like we’re doing now, you have the chance to fix them up. But if you have to make it on the fly, you’ve just got that one chance. So we’re not quite there yet. In the future, I think we will be able to do this.”
Can we trust AI?
“What surprises me the most is that we know if we input something into an AI, we get a certain output,” Sato remarked. “But when it comes to the operating principles of how it gets to that answer, we don’t yet have a good understanding.”
“Even as we’re able to do dramatically more with AI, it’s becoming clear that there are a lot of potential problems,” Suzuki agreed. “One of those problems is that the generative AI we use now is often described as a black box. Even if we know that a certain action causes a certain result, we still don’t know very well what kind of logic it’s following. And as long as we don’t understand that, we won’t really be able to take full advantage of AI.”
Much of Suzuki’s research focuses on how well AI aligns with human sensibilities, looking at metrics such as whether AI chooses the same words to describe certain things.
“In actual fact, AI isn’t processing these things in the same way as a human. Of course, what’s happening in a computer is different from what’s happening in a human brain, so there’s a difference there, even if we’re seeing similar things come out.”
Suzuki says that even the biggest models aren’t quite there yet, but the path forward is clear.
“When there is a difference between how humans and AI feel about something, we aren’t able to fully trust our use of AI,” he added. “Only by making AI that aligns as much as possible with human sensibilities will the world be able to use it to its full potential.”
Staying optimistic in the AI age
In a world flooded with AI-generated content, what will become of human creators?
“Young creators and students often ask me what they should do going forward,” Sato told the panel. “It’s not a question of skill, but of morals, of philosophy – what does it mean to be human? It’s important that we face this question head-on.”
The flipside of this, Suzuki highlighted, is that AI tools can empower regular people to become creative.
“People who weren’t necessarily creators are now able to ‘make’ things,” he noted. “Now that the playing field has been leveled somewhat, you should be thinking about how to infuse your own personality into your creations to add a unique flavor.”
Sato concluded the session on an optimistic note.
“I’m mainly excited about AI. I want to see new things. I want to make new things. How we make things is going to keep changing – we could see creations that humankind has never seen before. And that’s something I want to witness,” Sato concluded. “If we do this session again, I’ll be excited to see what awaits us in the future.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/creativity-and-humanity-in-the-ai-age.html
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/ukraine/communication/
Rank 6 for Viber in Algeria
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/algeria/communication/
Rank 2 for Viber in Armenia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/armenia/communication/
Rank 3 for Viber in Bosnia and Herzegovina
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...ovina/communication/
Rank 2 for Viber in Bulgaria
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/bulgaria/communication/
Rank 3 for Viber in Greece
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/greece/communication/
Rank 4 for Viber in Croatia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/croatia/communication/
Rank 4 for Viber in Lithuania
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/lithuania/communication/
Rank 3 for Viber in Macedonia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...ic-of/communication/
Rank 2 for Viber in Moldavia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...ic-of/communication/
Rank 10 for Viber in Nepal
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/nepal/communication/
Rank 5 for Viber in Philippines
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...pines/communication/
Rank 5 for Viber in Russia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...ation/communication/
Rank 3 for Viber in Serbia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/serbia/communication/
Rank 7 for Viber in Slovakia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/slovakia/communication/
Rank 3 for Viber in Slovenia
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/slovenia/communication/
Rank 10 for Viber in Czech Republic
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/...ublic/communication/
Rank 4 for Viber in Hungary
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/hungary/communication/
Rank 9 for Viber in Vietnam
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/vietnam/communication/
Rank 2 for Viber In Belarus
https://www.similarweb.com/de/top-apps/google/belarus/communication/
The new offering allows Viber Plus users to quickly and quietly undo their digital chat print.
By Team Orange September 1, 2024
Rakuten Viber, a global leader in private and secure messaging and calls, announces Delete Without a Trace, a highly anticipated feature allowing Viber Plus premium users to inconspicuously unsend their messages — regardless of whether recipients have already read them.
“Viber Plus is our commitment to providing users with a user experience that’s not just functional, but also fun and secure,” says Ofir Eyal, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “We will continue to incorporate user feedback to build out fan-favorite features — as we have with Invisible Mode — to maintain customer satisfaction and easy chatting.”
Since January of this year, Rakuten Viber has noted a 170% increase in Viber Plus subscribers. Its exclusive features and content are available in 100 countries to Viber’s millions of users.
https://orangemagazine.ph/2024/...-a-trace-feature-for-premium-users/
By arminderkaur192 6th September 2024
Rakuten Mobile’s 5G network is notable for its innovative approach, leveraging a fully virtualized, cloud-native architecture. Here’s a detailed technical breakdown:
https://telcomatraining.com/what-is-rakuten-5g-network/
1 Nutzer wurde vom Verfasser von der Diskussion ausgeschlossen: Scansoft