Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
By Keith Dyer 16 September 2020
Odd couple Telefonica and Rakuten both want to get on with it, is about the message.
Today Telefonica and Rakuten said they would be co-operating to jointly develop products for Open RAN and for cloud-native, automated core and OSS solutions. They also said they would enter into a joint procurement initiative for Open RAN and cloud-native network solutions.
It’s an odd couple buddy movie – the giant incumbent and the plucky upstart. Cast Telefonica as the experienced old pro learning new tricks from its fresh-faced young partner, and Rakuten as the upstart new-comer finding respect for the old stager that, it turns out, has a few tricks of its own.
Telefonica gets to deepen its understanding of how the virtual RAN platform works, and to develop a reference platform that integrators can go and make happen in the network. Rakuten gets scale investment in the products, and help with procurement (ie access to even cheaper product via the scale that Telefonica brings). And although it already has experience in instrumenting its network to become automated, it also gets the benefit of Telefonica’s huge amount of work in virtualising its network, and in developing AI-led solutions for cloud-based network functionality.
As Rakuten CTO Tareq Amin said, “The opportunity for making software better is enormous. We have unparalleled access to the engineering resources to build resilience and a software architecture for how to automate networks as a whole.”
https://the-mobile-network.com/2020/09/...ran-and-network-automation/
Telefónica plans to deploy open RAN in three phases:
Phase 0 / 2020-2021: Pilots
Phase 1 / 2021-2022: Initial deployments
Phase 2 / 2022: Massive deployments in Spain, Brazil, Germany and UK
“The objective is having open RAN in 50% of the network deployed between 2022-2025,” said the spokesperson
With Rakuten Mobile, Telefónica will also collaborate on 4G and 5G core technology. Currently, Rakuten is using Nokia technology for its 4G core, but it’s working with Japan’s NEC for its 5G standalone (SA) core.
The 5G SA core from NEC is based on containers. And not only will Rakuten Mobile use this core in its own network, but Rakuten and NEC plan to offer it as a product to other operators, so it’s possible that Telefónica could be a first customer for this 5G core product.
And finally, Telefónica and Rakuten Mobile will refine OSS technology that is currently used by Rakuten Mobile in Japan. Rakuten Mobile’s OSS is based on technology from the startup Innoeye, a company that Rakuten purchased in May.
https://www.fiercewireless.com/tech/...bile-to-deploy-open-ran-phases
Rakuten, one of the largest loyalty programs in the US, has a mission to enable its employees to derive insights from company data faster, with more security, governance, and agility, while leveraging the speed and scalability of the cloud. They needed to modernize their data architecture to alleviate business disruptions caused by the physical limitations of their on-premises Hadoop cluster. In this clip from "How Rakuten Migrated the Data of 10 Million Customers to the Cloud" Webinar, join Rakuten's VP of Analytics, Mark Stange-Tregear, as he discusses why they chose Snowflake and their migration journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LS6vogjnI&feature=emb_title
Und Warren Buffett investiert in Snowflake:
https://www.manager-magazin.de/finanzen/boerse/...d-8906-b878a4396e09
1. As there are no ITU recommendations or 3GPP specs detailing how to implement a 5G Core/5G SA network, the Rakuten-NEC 5G core could become a defacto standard. As we’ve stated many times, the 3GPP specs on 5G Core are network architecture specs that leave the various implementation choices to the implementor. And 3GPP is not even sending their 5G non-radio specs to ITU-T for consideration as future recommendations. Meanwhile, Rakuten and NEC have created a 5G “cloud native” core spec (proprietary of course) built on containers, which NEC (and likely other vendors) will implement in Rakuten’s 5G network. Rakuten and NEC plan to offer there 5G Core as a product to other 5G network operators. Telefónica could be the first customer for this 5G core product. Hence, this 5G Core product could
2. The Rakuten Communications Platform for Open RAN could similarly be sold to other carriers that want to deploy an Open RAN 4G/5G network. The catch here is that any legacy wireless carrier wanting to do so would have to support two incompatible sets of cellular infrastructure to serve its customers: 1] The traditional “closed box base stations” (from Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, ZTE, etc) in cell towers AND 2] The new Open RAN, multi-vendor base stations using totally different hardware/software platforms which requires a significant amount of systems integration and tech support/trouble resolution. Rakuten’s platform could, at the very least, simplify systems integration and avoid “finger pointing” when troubleshooting a failure or degraded service.
3. Both the Rakuten-NEC 5G Core and Rakuten Communications Platform for Open RAN could be terrific products to sell to greenfield carriers (with no existing wireless infrastructure). Apparently, that’s too late for Dish Network and Reliance Jio, which claim they’re building their own “open 5G” network. Meanwhile, India based Tech Mahindra claims it can build a complete 5G network now, which they would surely sell to would be 5G network providers, utilities, and government agencies around the world.
4. The OSS co-operation amongst these two carriers is significant, because (once again) there are no standards for 5G SA OSS’s such that the deliverable output of cooperation here could become a defacto standard.
5. Co-operative work on automation of network functions and operations will also be vitally important. Otherwise, that too will be proprietary to the wireless network provider which would require different software for the SAME functions for different carriers. The work will probably start with these 2800 series 3GPP specs: TS 28.554 Management and orchestration; 5G end to end Key Performance Indicators (KPI); TS 28.555 Management and orchestration; Network policy management for 5G mobile networks; Stage 1 TS 28.556 Management and orchestration; Network policy management for 5G mobile networks; Stage 2 and stage 3. There are similar ITU-T SG 13 high level Recommendations on these subjects.
https://techblog.comsoc.org/2020/09/16/...an-5g-core-network-and-oss/
Lowering the barrier…on purpose
Diane Rinaldo is one of the United States’ leading 5G experts, currently a Senior Vice President at Beacon Global Strategies, a Washington D.C. political consultancy specializing in national security issues. Until December 2019, she was acting head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, lead adviser to the White House on telecommunications and spectrum policy affairs. Prior to serving the White House, she served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where she focused on the Cybersecurity Act of 2015.
Rinaldo is also Executive Director of the Open RAN Policy Coalition, a consortium of leading private-sector companies united in their conviction that a market-based, open system that maximizes innovation in the 5G application space is the best way forward.
“Our coalition members support policies that promote the development and adoption of open and interoperable interfaces in the RAN,” said Rinaldo. “Open interfaces will help ensure interoperability across different players in the ecosystem, which will lower the barrier to entry for new innovators and bring more options for creative solutions.”
The 54 members of the Open RAN Policy Coalition cover a full spectrum of 5G stakeholders, including global telecoms Rakuten, Reliance Jio, Telefónica, cell tower operator Crown Castle, equipment makers Samsung, Nokia, and Qualcomm, U.S. tech bellwethers Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, and newer cloud startups like telecom software makers Mavenir and Altiostar.
https://investableuniverse.com/2020/09/16/...n-5g-rakuten-telefonica/
To allow users to purchase attire from their news feeds, Verishop Inc. introduced a new social eCommerce app. The offering brings together the functions of an online shopping website that Verishop rolled out in 2019 with a digital app that works similar to TikTok and Pinterest, Bloomberg reported.
The platform, which will receive a portion of sales made through the service in lieu of ads, will have over 600 brands, such as Madewell and Hill City apparel and Oribe hair care products. It will also showcase culinary, fashion and interior design influencers.
Imran Khan, who leads the startup and served as an executive for Snap Inc. in the past, said past social shopping companies were too geared on the fun parts at first instead of creating the complex groundwork, Bloomberg reported. His company, however, flipped the strategy on its head as it made an eCommerce website initially with complimentary returns as well as two-day shipping.
https://www.pymnts.com/news/ecommerce/2020/...s-social-ecommerce-app/
Rakuten Group's quarterly fintech operating profit 2013-2020
Sep 1, 2020
In the second quarter of 2020, the Rakuten Group's internet finance operating profit amounted to around 21.3 billion Japanese yen. This income was generated through Rakuten Card, Rakuten Bank, Rakuten Securities as well as Rakuten e-money "Edy".
https://www.statista.com/statistics/223368/...nance-operating-profit/
Und der aus den 850 Millionen Dollar resultierende Cash Flow dürfte m.E. über einer Milliarde Dollar liegen. Das dürfte auch eine der Hauptursachen sein, dass Rakuten seine gigantischen Investitionen - vor allem in Mobile - ohne Kapitalerhöung stemmen kann.
Und ein KGV von 20 ist bei dem in Grafik erkennbaren Wachstum der Gewinne extrem niedrig angesetzt - verglichen mit anderen Fintech-Unternehmen, die durchaus KGV's von 100 übersteigen.
Und ich gehe daher nach den massiven Investitionen auch wieder von dem Erreichen der Milliardenschiene bei den Gewinnen aus. Fakt ist auch, dass Rakuten diese massiven Investitionen tatsächlich auch tätigt und nicht nur von hohen Investitionen faselt.
In particular, the use of OpenRAN enables telecom carriers like Telefónica to pick and choose the parts for their emerging 5G systems from a range of different companies, instead of having to rely on Huawei.
For its part, Rakuten has been making headlines, jumping ahead of competitors as it rolls out a 5G network in Japan.
"I envision our partnership to also co-explore further development around Rakuten Communications Platform that will enable operators around the world to take advantage of cost-effective cloud-native mobile network architecture that is secure and reliable," said Tareq Amin, representative director, executive vice president and CTO of Rakuten Mobile.
https://www.pymnts.com/news/...a-shakes-up-5g-race-with-rakuten-deal/
Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL) is the leader in eCommerce order fulfillment services and freight brokerage. RSL offers national fulfillment services and a network of 15 US fulfillment centers located in Anaheim (CA), Atlanta (GA), Austin (TX), Chicago (IL), Denver (CO), Houston (TX), Las Vegas (NV), Miami (FL), Olean (NY), Reno (NV), Salt Lake City (UT), and Scranton (PA). Their state-of-the-art technology allows for integration with popular shopping cart platforms and online marketplaces including Amazon, Big Commerce, Channel Advisor, eBay, Magento, ShipStation, Shopify, Volusion, Walmart Marketplace, and WooCommerce. RSL offers modern fulfillment solutions for leading eCommerce retailers focused on reducing shipping costs, improving order accuracy, decreasing shipping times, and increasing customer satisfaction. Contact us to request a quote and learn more about partnering with RSL to fulfill your eCommerce shipping needs.
https://www.rakutensl.com/post/...e-really-know-your-customer-podcast
Mittlere Schätzung von 12 Analysten für das Jahr 2020 Verlust von 63 YEN pro Aktie gegenüber 9 YEN in 2019 und auch für 2021 ist die Schätzung von 13 Analysten im Mittelwert bei 36 YEN Verlust je Aktie.
Und Kaufen und Halten will die Aktie anscheinend auch kein Mensch, das kann man ganz einfach am Kursverlauf der letzten Jahre eindeutig erkennen.
https://www.finanzen.net/schaetzungen/rakuten
By Rhiannon Farrar | September 17, 2020 | MARKETING STRATEGIES
Online-to-offline strategies, otherwise known as O2O, have been gaining rapid momentum in the affiliate marketing industry over recent years.
Many may think that this trend is on the decline since COVID-19 sent people around the world into lockdown and rapidly increased the rate of online consumption. Though there is a reason behind this line of thinking, as the 2020 peak shopping period approaches and consumers around the world move through various stages of lockdown, there’s evidence showing that retailers need to now start exploring O2O strategies again.
A recent consumer study by Rakuten Advertising revealed that 57% of global consumers have indicated that they will shop both in-store and online this peak shopping season.
https://blog.rakutenadvertising.com/...-of-an-o2o-affiliate-strategy/
In der heutigen Minuszinszeit könnte man auch sagen: Bei Rakuten hat man schon immer MINUSZINSEN bezahlt sozusagen.
Q2/20 Revenue and Operating Income (JPY bn)
Core Business*1 Revenue 244.6 267.5 +9.4% Operating Income 34.0 34.4 +1.2%
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/investors/
Dass man beim Aufbau eines neuen Sektors, der Etablierung eines vierten Mobilfunkanbieters in Japan, in der Investitionsphase hohe Verluste einfährt, ist unvermeidlich und nachvollziehbar.
In this episode of Let's Talk Loyalty, I interview Kristen Gall, President of Rakuten Rewards, to understand the power of affiliate marketing, their partnerships with American Express and Live Nation - as well as their global sponsorships with FC Barcelona, The National Basketball Association (NBA) and The Golden State Warriors.
Listen also for some fascinating insights on exactly what retail trends are emerging amid Covid-19 and the categories consumers are slowly beginning to spend on again.
https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/1477471222/...oyalty/36-rakuten-rewards
Let's Talk Loyalty
“Let’s Talk Loyalty” is an industry podcast for loyalty marketing professionals.
If you work in loyalty marketing, join me every week to learn the latest ideas and marketing insights from loyalty specialists around the world.
https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/1477471222/lets-talk-loyalty
This urgency for truth sparked the Provenance Proof Blockchain initiative, enabled by Everledger technology and run by the Gübelin Gem Lab, the world’s most respected institution for testing and identification of coloured gemstones. “Retailers and customers have begun demanding information that goes beyond the scientific data that we can provide in the gemological laboratory,” explained Klemens Link, head of development at Gübelin. “What were the working conditions for the miners? Were they receiving a fair price, so they could feed their families? Without trackability and transparency, there is no trust.”
https://www.everledger.io/...chain-reveals-the-force-of-storytelling/
Sep. 14, 2020
The company looks undervalued, especially with regards to the Consumer Discretionary plays on basis of the Price to Sales metric. However, due to the high expenses being undertaken in infrastructure development, the company is not seeing consistent operational profitability.
Still Rakuten has two profitable segments which are delivering significant growth and its marketplace services is not restricted to Japan only as it also covers the US and continental Europe together with East Asia.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/...lutionizing-mobile-operator-world
September 21, 2020
Rakuten Mobile appears to be making a much bigger bet on India in the field of IT services and telecom hardware for both its telecom network in Japan and Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP).
Rakuten’s chief technology officer Tareq Amin said that the company wants to make India a “hub for engineering” and it will be working towards growing enabling the IT and telecom ecosystems.
“If it grows, then I have another supply chain that I can go to and we feel comfortable about,” Amin was quoted as saying by the Economic Times. “I am personally motivated quite a bit to make India a hub for a lot of the engineering we do.”
The senior executive told the publication that it is going to enter into big partnerships with Indian IT companies and system integrators for its RCP.
The company is already working with IT services company Tech Mahindra and telecom equipment maker Sterlite Technologies Limited in India. While Tech Mahindra is helping Rakuten with its RCP, Sterlite is providing it with Wi-Fi 6 hardware.
“We have a great story in the making of collaboration between Rakuten and the right Indian partners that are really willing and one team to embrace and build indigenous technology in India and create a win-win model for us as Rakuten then and for future business partners in India,” he told the publication.
https://disruptive.asia/...bets-big-on-india-with-services-equipment/
Mobile Messaging Services Market research report is the new statistical data source added by A2Z Market Research.
“Mobile Messaging Services Market is growing at a High CAGR during the forecast period 2020-2026. The increasing interest of the individuals in this industry is that the major reason for the expansion of this market”.
Top Key Players Profiled in this report are:
Reliance Industries Ltd., Tencent, Google, Microsoft Corporation, Telegram, WhatsApp, Rakuten, Line, Hike, Facebook
https://thedailychronicle.in/tag/...e-messaging-services-market-2020/
March 2, 2020
The affiliate agreement also gives Purple access to Rakuten’s first-party data from its network of companies. The anonymized data not only comes from influencer and blogger, but sites such as Retail Me Not and Ebates, said Julie Van Ullen, managing director of the U.S. and Canada performance network business at Rakuten Advertising.
Ads are personalized based on data. Rakuten’s technology can infer from the data when a consumer wants to make a new mattress purchase in the near future and that they have a higher propensity to buy a Purple mattress. If the data believes the consumer has a higher propensity to buy a mattress, Purple will serve a coupon.
Brohamer said he is also looking into Rakuten’s other ad offerings. Rakuten launched its advertising group in February, drawing on audiences, insights and the well-established performance marketing strategies.
The new company brings together Rakuten Marketing’s affiliate network, programmatic retargeting and prospecting technology with consumer insights from Rakuten Intelligence, as well as a set of global media properties.
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/...html?edition=117412