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/
21 hours ago
Bjorn Laukli, Head of Technology, Rakuten International
The ongoing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) is driven by its potential to revolutionize businesses and daily life, yet the most transformative advancements being made today often go unnoticed. These advancements are fueled by the diligent efforts of companies integrating AI solutions at an unprecedented pace and scale. Despite challenges such as data privacy laws and high costs, this foundational work is essential for maximizing AI benefits.
As Head of Technology for Rakuten International, Bjorn Laukli details Rakuten’s commitment to the complex and time-consuming process of standardizing core platforms and enhancing interoperability at a global level. These crucial efforts position the company at the forefront of this transformative AI journey.
The world at large is fascinated by the ongoing buzz surrounding artificial intelligence, and it’s easy to see why. Every day brings a new story about how this transformative technology is set to revolutionize businesses, shake up our economies and reshape the world. Generative AI is, in fact, already embedded into our daily lives. It influences the recommendations for the shows we watch and the news we read, and it plays a crucial role in designing new medicines and medical technologies. These are just a few examples of how AI is both ubiquitous and critical.
Less noticed – but arguably more important – are the myriad ways in which virtually every company and organization the world over is working to better understand, integrate and harness AI, not just technically, but procedurally and administratively as well. Developing and scaling training and education programs and establishing procedural guardrails that ensure data privacy and effective collaboration – these are the monumental and foundational efforts that are now underway at an unprecedented pace and scale. They are precisely the kinds of initiatives that my teams and I are focused on.
AI presents companies, particularly those like Rakuten which operate globally, with a series of challenges. Policies and systems need to satisfy a matrix of regional laws related to data privacy and AI safety. The costs and infrastructure required to manage and transfer massive amounts of data, both globally and within Rakuten’s various businesses, are key considerations. While these challenges preceded the AI era, the emergence of AI has intensified these issues and added urgency to our pursuit of solutions.
Over the past year, my teams and I have worked alongside colleagues in virtually every business and department in the Rakuten Group to ensure that cutting-edge AI tools and training are widely available and accessible and that users can leverage their jaw-dropping potential in safe, sound and secure ways.
We are also working to provide visibility into the AI-related efforts of each business. Our collective success largely depends on our ability to learn from the experiences, advances and failures we encounter as we strive to optimally leverage AI. For instance, every business, and the Rakuten Group as a whole, will benefit from understanding how Rakuten’s messaging app, Viber, is now able to summarize unread messages, or how Kobo’s AI solution helps flag and manage inappropriate content on its website. While teams are understandably laser-focused on ensuring the success and profitability of their individual businesses, establishing and maintaining the administrative infrastructure for visibility, transparency and collaboration is crucial. It’s why we’ve created the AI Management Office within Rakuten International and why other companies are also creating high-level AI centers.
AI has also increased the urgency and opportunity for enhancing core shared services platforms, such as Membership and Global Search. While every business within the Rakuten Group shares certain affinities and faces common challenges, each one is also unique and distinct in critical ways. Consequently, using our core platforms requires maintaining a degree of flexibility that allows us to tweak and tailor our highly standardized solutions to meet specific needs. This kind of flexibility and customization is one of the fundamental advantages that AI offers.
Realizing this advantage, however, requires us to speak a common language and manage our data consistently across all businesses. While not as easy to understand as the output from a chatbot, these “collaboration anchors” will help each business realize economies of scale and efficiency, and in turn, the company as a whole. Rakuten has set an ambitious target known internally as the Triple 20 which aims to strengthen its competitive edge through a 20% enhancement in productivity across operations, marketing, and customer experiences. Though currently challenging, these goals are well within our reach.
The fast pace of modern life has shaped expectations for how quickly massive, global changes take shape and are felt. Given the ongoing media frenzy around AI, it’s understandable that people expect an almost instant AI revolution. The reality is the AI revolution is unfolding in a slower, more deliberate, and considered manner. This is precisely why Rakuten is moving at a rapid speed to both immediately realize benefits from the AI tools and techniques already available and, at the same time, construct a rock-solid foundation upon which we will soon be able to build even faster.
https://rakuten.today/blog/...d-moves-igniting-the-ai-revolution.html
KIERAN THOMPSON
Tokyo is using the four-way grouping to champion its local tech companies against behemoths from Europe and China.
Published 18 Jul 2024
5G network technologies are currently dominated by four companies. From Europe, Sweden’s Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia, are the trusted suppliers for many Western-aligned 5G networks. The competition they face is China’s Huawei and ZTE. These four companies – a corporate “quad” if you will – along with a smaller share from South Korean firm Samsung, together control more than 95% of the global 5G network equipment market.
Through the Quad, along with other diplomatic entities, Japan is seeking to promote its own 5G national champions. Equipment manufacturers NEC and Fujitsu, plus mobile network operator Rakuten and others, are each pursuing Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology, which they and the Japanese government believe will enable them to compete in the highly 5G concentrated market.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/...-s-5g-ambitions-quad
Japanese messaging app Rakuten Viber is eyeing a comeback in Vietnam and has its sights set on business users, a senior executive has said.
The company sees Vietnam as a potential market and plans to strengthen its long-term presence there, Atanas Raykov, Rakuten Viber vice president of global marketing and growth, said during a visit to the country this month.
Viber was a popular app in Vietnam even 10 years ago until it was overshadowed by the likes of Messenger, Telegram and Zalo.
People use other apps for general conversation, but look to Viber when they need high security and protection, he said.
"We aim to reach professionals who trust that our technology can protect the most important contents."
These customers are mostly women in the 22-55 age group who use iOS devices.
Viber is also working to partner with banks in Vietnam to add a feature that allows users to inform each other about a successful bank transfer.
The company also hopes to reach customers in the public sector and major businesses, Raykov added.
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/...-race-4771091.html
Open RAN has long been described as a journey, with the first steps focused purely on disaggregating hardware and software, then reaggregating it into a functional radio system.
Now the focus is shifting to more robust implementations that go beyond disaggregation and get into open, cloud-based automation and service differentiation at scale in brownfield networks.
https://www.spirent.com/events/...o-scale-out-in-a-brownfield-network
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...ope-open-ran-market-2024size-lb0wf/
The Japan Telecom Market size is estimated at USD 117.84 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 149.82 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.92% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Source: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/...ry-reports/japan-telecom-market
Published by C. Diep, Jul 17, 2024
In the first quarter of 2024, the number of member IDs registered at Rakuten amounted to over 142 million. The most recent figure constitutes an increase of over four percent compared to the first quarter of the previous year. The Japanese e-commerce company is headquartered in Tokyo, where it was founded in 1997.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/223349/rakuten-members/
Norbert Gehrke
Jul 18, 2024
Japan’s financial institutions are discovering the underbanked foreign residents as a potential area for growth. After Credit Saison has just launched its “SAISON JP Life Assist” portal, Rakuten Card released “Rakuten Card Lite,” the first English language app from the credit card company focused on the international community in Japan. This has come alongside players like Digital Wallet Corporation (Smile Remittances), Sony Bank, and GIG-A (had to abandon its first implementation with Kiraboshi’s UI Bank, but is working on an alternative) who have targeted this segment explicitly.
Rakuten Card developed the app, which is available on both Android and iOS platforms, as part of Rakuten Group’s commitment to provide more inclusive services and address the growing need for multilingual options in Japan. By launching a simplified version of the existing Rakuten Card app, the company aims to leverage a shorter development cycle and offer Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean language support in the future.
https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech/...english-language-app-c5e208867770
25.07.24 06:21 Uhr
2 Analysten schätzen im Schnitt, dass Rakuten für das jüngste Quartal einen Verlust je Aktie von -9,539 JPY vermelden wird. Im Vorjahr hatte das Unternehmen ein EPS von -32,270 JPY je Aktie erwirtschaftet.
Insgesamt erwarten 13 Analysten für das aktuell laufende Fiskaljahr einen durchschnittlichen Verlust von -38,039 JPY je Aktie, gegenüber -177,270 JPY je Aktie im Vorjahr. Den Jahresumsatz setzen 15 Analysten durchschnittlich auf 2.276,32 Milliarden JPY fest. Im Vorjahr waren noch 2.071,32 Milliarden JPY in den Büchern gestanden.
https://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/...aufenen-quartal-13700453
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