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/
Here are some highlights:
Sharad Sriwastawa, co-CEO of Rakuten Mobile, discussed their intent-based network and how AI-powered 5G analytics enhance operating efficiencies and customer service. They’re unlocking unmatched connectivity experiences using AI.
Rahul Atri, President of the OSS BU and Managing Director of Rakuten Symphony India, advocated for AI’s transformative role. He explored topics like Open APIs, reusable platforms, and intelligent network management.
Rakuten Symphony’s participation at DTW reflects their commitment to driving innovation in telecom. They engaged in media interviews, panel discussions, and analyst briefings, sharing insights with strategic partners like TelecomTV, NMG, and TM Forum.
In summary, Rakuten Symphony is at the forefront of AI-driven telecom solutions, shaping the future of networks worldwide!
https://www.bing.com/...sendquery=1&FORM=ASCHT2&sp=2&lq=0
July 19, 2024
1&1 hat mit der Inbetriebnahme des europaweit ersten Mobilfunknetzes auf Basis der neuartigen Open-RAN-Technologie ein Telekommunikationsnetz geschaffen, das das Potenzial von 5G voll ausschöpft und Deutschland bereit für Echtzeitanwendungen macht. 1&1 gestaltet als Innovationstreiber die Zukunft des Mobilfunks aktiv mit. Im Video erklären wir das 1&1 5G Mobilfunknetz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tohptpcD7Ns
Here are some key areas they focus on:
Rakuten Ichiba: Their flagship online marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, has continuously evolved to enhance user experience. They invest in technology, logistics, and customer service to stay competitive.
Rakuten Pay: Rakuten’s mobile payment platform offers convenient and secure transactions. They’re working on expanding its adoption and integrating it with other services.
Rakuten Mobile: The company entered the mobile carrier market, aiming to disrupt the industry by providing affordable plans and high-quality service. Their innovative approach challenges traditional telecom models.
Rakuten Viber: As a global messaging app, Viber focuses on privacy and security. They’ve introduced features like end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages.
Rakuten Kobo: Their e-book platform competes with giants like Amazon Kindle. Kobo emphasizes an open ecosystem, supporting various e-book formats and devices.
Rakuten Institute of Technology: This research arm explores cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, and quantum computing. They collaborate with universities and industry partners.
Rakuten TV: Their streaming service offers a wide range of content, including original productions. They’re expanding globally to compete with established players.
https://www.bing.com/...p;adppc=EDGEDSP&PC=EDGEDSP&showconv=1
By Vaibhav Dongre
Vice President Marketing Rakuten Symphony
https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...dive-into-csps-cloud-rtc-and-iot
Rakuten Mobile, Japan’s upstart mobile telecom network operator, sees light at the end of the financial tunnel as subscriber growth heads toward breakeven on an operating cash flow basis in 2024.
https://asiatimes.com/2024/03/...n-mobile-making-gains-with-open-ran/
By reimagining telecom, they make it possible to launch and operate advanced mobile services in a fraction of the time and cost of conventional approaches, with no compromise to network quality or security.
Here are some key aspects of their telecom solutions:
Open RAN for Real: Rakuten Symphony offers Open RAN solutions, which focus on open, disaggregated architectures. These solutions enable flexibility, interoperability, and automation. Notable features include:
Carrier-Grade 4G DU & CU: Fully containerized, feature-rich Open 4G RAN for greenfield and brownfield mobile operator networks. It supports macro, indoor/outdoor small cell, and femto cell deployments.
Carrier-Grade 5G DU & CU: Microservices architecture-based Open 5G RAN for next-gen networks. It supports FR1 and FR2, massive MIMO, and various deployment scenarios.
Radio Supply Chain Diversity: Interoperability testing completed with over 30 low, mid, and high radio bands, reducing vendor lock-in.
Automation at Scale: Faster deployment cycles (30% lower TCO) and continuous feature releases.
Global Reach: Rakuten Symphony operates across Japan, the United States, Singapore, India, Europe, and the Middle East Africa region. They offer 4G and 5G infrastructure and platform solutions worldwide.
Partnerships: Rakuten Symphony collaborates with companies like 1&1 to build Europe’s first fully virtualized mobile network based on Open RAN technology.
In summary, Rakuten Symphony’s telecom solutions empower operators, enterprises, and government bodies to embrace cloud-native, open RAN infrastructure for a more efficient and innovative mobile experience.
https://www.bing.com/...p;adppc=EDGEDSP&PC=EDGEDSP&showconv=1
26 July 2024 By Michael Kozlowski
Kobo has released its first generation of colour e-readers a couple of months ago. They initially ordered one million units of the Clara Colour and Libra Colour. The upstream supply chain can easily handle two additional million units to meet potential customer demand. Customers seem to be embracing the 7-inch Kobo Libra Colour compared to the 6-inch Kobo Clara Colour. The initial shipping ratio between the two was approximately 3:2, meaning consumers prefer the larger device.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a strong track record in the tech industry, disclosed in a recent report “Due to better-than-expected first-wave sales, Kobo will accelerate its plan to launch a larger colour e-reader using E Ink’s 10.3-inch Kaleido and expects to launch it before the end of 2024 at the earliest if the panel and assembly capacity can meet the rush order demand.”
https://goodereader.com/blog/kobo-ereader-news/...-by-the-end-of-2024
Carousell 2023: Net loss narrows significantly
https://aimgroup.com/2024/07/19/...23-net-loss-narrows-significantly/
This is the app-based transportation company with the most users. It was born in 2012. Between Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali, Medellín, Bucaramanga and Cartagena, there are 2.5 million users. This company arrived in Colombia at the end of 2013. In 2018, Easy Taxi, a company that also came to operate in the country, entered into a partnership with Cabify in 2018 under the name Maxi Mobility and is based in Spain, but Easy Taxi has disappeared and only the Cabify brand remains, which operates in several Latin American countries.
It started with an initial funding of $3 million, mostly contributed by the founding team. Two years later, the company injected significant funds, largely contributed by the private equity fund of Beatriz Gonzalez, daughter of former BBVA president Francisco Gonzalez, Seaya Ventures, which contributed around $5.5 million. A year later, the third round of investment arrived, when Japanese tech giant Rakuten acquired 47%, and Beatriz Gonzalez acquired around 28% of the company.
https://prkgo.com/...ps-that-taxi-drivers-have-been-unable-to-remove/
Today's video provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to buy mutual funds on Rakuten Securities for your NISA account from 2024. I will guide you on navigating the menus, show you the specific funds that I have been purchasing myself, and walk you through setting up a regular monthly purchase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJaPgroFbgo
July 23.07.2024
Partha Seetala, president of the Rakuten Cloud business unit, addresses how we are meeting the needs of the enterprise market with our cloud-native solutions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbyp2FfgTN8
One of the world’s largest mobile network infrastructure migrations unlocks new era of fast, low-latency on-demand services across Japan.
Tokyo, July 29, 2024 - Rakuten Mobile and Cisco today 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 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.
Rakuten Mobile operates the world first’s fully virtualized cloud-native mobile network*3. It launched 4G service in Japan in April 2020 in record time. With over 7 million subscribers*4 today, Rakuten Mobile continues to advance and scale its network to support new demands of the network with the deployment of SRv6 uSID which introduces an unprecedented combination of speed, on-demand services, and low-latency capabilities for consumers and business of all sizes.
Leveraging the robust foundation laid by the SRv6 uSID-based IP transport network, Rakuten Mobile strategically positions itself to offer a suite of transformative enterprise services. Businesses can access tailored solutions, establish dedicated network segments, exercise granular control over performance, and achieve near-instantaneous data transfer*2 for latency-sensitive applications.
"I’m proud that our strategic collaboration with Cisco goes beyond mere connectivity,” said Shailesh Gupta, Division Manager, Network Operations (SXC) Division at Rakuten Mobile. “This milestone migration delivered for Rakuten Mobile is a testament to our joint commitment to deliver innovative solutions to our customers in Japan as well as the global telecom industry, sparking a new wave of possibilities where mobile operators can thrive in the digital era.”
"Cisco takes immense pride in its role as a strategic partner in this monumental technological leap alongside Rakuten Mobile," said Vish Iyer, President, APJ Service Provider, Cisco. "Our dedication extends beyond collaboration; it's a commitment to providing businesses with indispensable infrastructure to thrive in today's ever-evolving landscape. This successful migration, one of the largest of its kind, stands as a testament to the depth of our dedication, reaffirming our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation as we navigate the dynamic currents of the digital era."
https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/...20240729_01_lang_en
June 7: crossed 7,000,000
June 30 (end of Q2/2024): 7,100,000 after my estimates)
August 8 (reporting about Q2/2024): 7,380,000 after my estimates
September 30 (end of Q3/2024): 7,850,000 after my estimates
December 31 (end of 2024): 8,600,000 after my estimates
Last edited: July 26, 2024
Rakuten Advertising has a global presence, and many advertisers in our affiliate program reach multiple countries. If you are considering expanding your own global presence, search for and apply to advertiser programs located in or shipping to additional countries. For the best results, ensure you are clear about your audience and where your users are.
For example, US publishers looking to branch into Asia-Pacific (APAC) to expand their offerings will need partners who ship to the US and APAC to add value and find success.
https://pubhelp.rakutenadvertising.com/hc/en-us/...GGFHX28PF2Z8QANJQ4
In July 2024, Rakuten Symphony, a division of Rakuten Group, participated in the DTW (Digital Transformation World) event held at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen. Their theme was “Telecom Reinvented,” showcasing an innovative, software-first approach to building and operating mobile networks. Rakuten Symphony delivers end-to-end automation solutions for telecom networks, emphasizing data and AI to drive revenue and retention. During the event, they discussed intent-driven intelligent networks, autonomous operations, next-gen OSS, and AI-enabled automation.
Additionally, Rakuten Symphony collaborates with Cisco to accelerate Open RAN (Radio Access Network) transformation and modernization for global service providers. It’s exciting to see how they’re shaping the future of telecommunications.
https://www.bing.com/...sendquery=1&FORM=ASCHT2&sp=1&lq=0
Release Date: July 2024
https://www.snstelecom.com/private5g
For the six months ended June 30, 2024
Rakuten Securities, Inc.
Results for the six months ended June 30, 2024 (January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024)
Consolidated Operating Results (Millions of yen, rounded down)
Operating revenue
Net operating revenue
Operating income
Ordinary income
Net income
Six months ended June 30, 2024
64,199 61,405 16,022 15,811 10,929
Six months ended June 30, 2023
54,017 51,469 15,439 15,129 10,596
Results for the three months ended June 30, 2024 (April 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024)
Consolidated Operating Results (Millions of yen, rounded down)
Operating revenue
Net operating revenue
Operating income
Ordinary income
Net income
April 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024
33,022 31,414 9,029 8,886 6,075
April 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023
29,383 28,070 9,512 9,404 6,74
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2024/...2520ir%2520fintech
Tokyo, July 30, 2024 - Rakuten Bank, Ltd. today announced that it has surpassed 16 million customer accounts as of July 29, 2024.
Since it started as a digital bank in 2001, Rakuten Bank has been committed to providing swift and convenient services to individual, corporate and sole proprietor business customers. The number of Rakuten Bank accounts has now surpassed 16 million, and the bank recently achieved the milestone of 10 trillion yen in total balance of non-consolidated deposits at the end of December 2023. Rakuten Bank customers are using multiple services after opening their accounts, such as bank transfers and using their accounts to receive salaries and bonuses. As a result, the use of Rakuten Bank as customers’ main account is steadily expanding.
Rakuten Bank aims to provide customers with greater convenience and value not only through the bank’s services but also by strengthening collaborations with other Rakuten Group services. In addition to offering the convenience of easy accessibility 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the handy Rakuten Bank app serves as a one-stop shop for almost all of the bank’s services.
Rakuten Bank provides even more merits and convenient services for customers, including awarding Rakuten Points for making money transfers and using their account to receive their salary and bonuses, and the Happy Program, a loyalty program that waives ATM fees up to seven times per month and bank transfer fees up to three times per month by linking the customer’s Rakuten ID with their Rakuten Bank account. Other services include Money Bridge, which offers preferential interest rates on ordinary deposits when users link their Rakuten Bank account with their Rakuten Securities account, the Rakuten Pay App, which allows customers to directly debit their Rakuten Bank account, and a payment feature on the Rakuten Pay app that awards users with Rakuten Points for making purchases through their Rakuten Bank account.
As the bank continues to leverage these strong synergies with the Rakuten Ecosystem, the number of Rakuten Bank's customer accounts has been steadily increasing. This growth has also been driven by Rakuten Securities’ increasing customer base, triggered by the new NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) program, introduced in January 2024, and shift to zero-commission trading for Japanese stocks, as customers are attracted by the convenience of using Rakuten Securities and Rakuten Bank together. Additionally, Rakuten Bank began offering new digital experiences starting this May to a wide range of customers via smartphones and other platforms through JRE BANK, an internet banking service for JR East Group customers.
These initiatives have been well-received by individual, corporate and sole proprietor business customers, leading to the latest milestone of 16 million Rakuten Bank accounts. Going forward, Rakuten Bank will continue working to offer innovative and convenient products and services to customers.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2024/0730_02.html
We invite people from all walks of life to come innovate with us at Rakathon 2024! We have a range of exciting themes and sub-themes, all centered around the overarching theme of applying Generative AI to the Ecommerce, Fintech, Mobile, and AI Ops domains.
https://corp.rakuten.co.in/...24-blog-prompt-your-ai-deas-to-reality/
What to expect
The event is split up into two sections.
August 1-4: Future Festival
Taste the future with Rakuten’s expansive showcase. Immerse yourself in the AI Zone — featuring Instagrammable LED light shows, AI-powered photo booths and games, as well as a sneak peek at unreleased Rakuten AI features. Also try delectable treats from Rakuten Ichiba merchants, bringing you the best flavors from all over Japan.
August 1-2: Business Conference
Get insights into the future of tech and connectivity from industry leaders, including Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani and AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan, while also delving into the world of space-based mobile connectivity. Plus, hear from Kashiwa Sato, the visionary creative director behind global brands like Uniqlo.
https://tokyocheapo.com/events/rakuten-optimism/
From New York To Paris, A Guide To The Fall Fashion Calendar
Updated Jul 26, 2024, 12:07pm EDT
Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo
Tokyo street style is trailblazing, but when it comes to runway fashion, Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo is a must. It happens from August 28 to September 2, and features young, up and coming designers. It is hosted by the Japan Fashion Week Organization and held twice a year at venues like Shibuya Hikarie and Omotesando Hills, and as other locations across Tokyo. Expect to see art exhibitions, talks, networking events and runway shows.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nadjasayej/2024/07/...-fashion-calendar/