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/
Tokyo, June 23, 2025 – Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced that select Rakuten digital comics will be officially available in Arabic through a collaboration with MENA E-Sports & Events, a Bahrain-based digital entertainment company.
The initiative marks a significant step in Rakuten’s commitment to expanding the reach of its digital comic book content to new global audiences. The broader Middle East and Africa comic book market generated revenue of USD 301.5 million in 2024 and is expected to grow over 11% per year from 2025 to 2030*1. With digital comics expected to be the most lucrative segment, Rakuten aims to tap into this burgeoning market through its collaboration with MENA E-Sports & Events, bringing its popular content to Arabic-speaking readers.
As part of the collaboration, MENA E-Sports & Events will exclusively license, translate and publish Rakuten’s digital comics on its dedicated Arabic content platform, MangaOasis. The launch will initially feature the localization of two popular titles, “Samurai Shinken” and “Gold Boy”, with potential plans to expand the catalog in the future, based on the success of the initial launch. Both titles will be available on MangaOasis in the coming months on the official website and through its mobile app.
The collaboration will leverage MENA E-Sports & Events’ deep understanding of the regional market and its expertise in cultural adaptation to ensure that the localized comics resonate with Arabic-speaking readers.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/0623_01.html
https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/en/campaign/...8302803fb5bbb64ec
2025-06-17
Myanmar, one of the key markets of Rakuten Viber, has seen a tremendous 121% growth rate in Business Accounts
Myanmar, one of the key markets of Rakuten Viber, has seen a tremendous 121% growth rate in Business Accounts for Small and Micro Businesses since they launched in the country in November 2024 with tens of thousands of conversations between users and local businesses happening every week nationwide. As of today, Rakuten Viber has also seen an 18% Year-on-Year increase in terms of Monthly Active Users (MAU), expanding the customer base entrepreneurs can connect with on Viber.
According to Rakuten Viber, over half of the Business Accounts in Myanmar are owned by Gen Z and Millennials (18 – 35 years old), with the most active business categories being Shopping, Beauty, Clothing and Electronics.
https://en.myanmartechpress.com/...anmars-small-and-micro-businesses/
Rakuten Mobile, a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, has entered into a business alliance with U-NEXT Co. to launch a new package called ‘Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT.’ This package offers users unlimited mobile data and access to U-NEXT’s extensive content library for a monthly fee, enhancing the value proposition for customers and potentially boosting the corporate value of both companies. The collaboration aims to leverage the high service affinity between Rakuten’s mobile offerings and U-NEXT’s content distribution to expand user benefits and business growth.
https://www.tipranks.com/news/...gs?mod=mw_quote_news#google_vignette
Rakuten Symphony has bagged a deal with Mobifone that might just pave the way for Open RAN in Vietnam.
June 5, 2025
The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that signals their intention to collaborate on a nationwide pilot project of 4G and 5G Open RAN technology.
The pilot scheme will see Rakuten supply its Open RAN solutions – plus those of its ecosystem partners – as well as provide "expertise" – presumably consultancy and systems integration services. MobiFone for its part will prepare cell sites and its core network in anticipation of hosting Open RAN technology.
https://www.telecoms.com/open-ran/open-ran-touches-down-in-vietnam
https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/...-networks-market
Leading Japanese streaming platform U-NEXT will deliver Japan’s No.1 selection of unlimited streaming titles to Rakuten Mobile customers
Early bird campaign: First month available for essentially 2,000 yen (2,200 yen with tax)
Tokyo, June 23, 2025 – Rakuten Mobile, Japan’s newest and most modern mobile network, and U-NEXT Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese streaming platform offering Japan's largest collection of unlimited streaming titles, today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a business alliance, beginning with the launch of “Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT.” This new package combines Rakuten Mobile's unlimited data plan with U-NEXT's premium content, providing customers with an unparalleled mobile entertainment experience.
Applications will open from October 2025 on the Rakuten Mobile official website, at Rakuten Mobile shops and via the official Rakuten Mobile store on Rakuten Ichiba.
For a monthly fee of 3,880 yen (4,268 yen including tax), subscribers will receive both unlimited mobile data and unlimited access to U-NEXT’s extensive content library, ranging from blockbuster movies and popular TV dramas to live music. Plus, the package includes access to over 200 magazines and over 3,000 children’s books. Starting around October, subscribers will also be able to enjoy select soccer matches from U-NEXT’s Soccer Pack, at no additional cost.
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, commented, "Rakuten Mobile is committed to providing our customers with the best possible mobile experience at an affordable price. We’ve already expanded our network coverage area and enhanced its quality and speed. Now partnering with U-NEXT allows us to deliver on that commitment by offering something truly unique: unlimited data combined with unlimited entertainment with Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT."
Yasuhide Uno, President and CEO of U-NEXT Holdings, commented: "We're excited to partner with Rakuten Mobile to launch Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT. This collaboration combines their high-speed, unlimited mobile service with our wide range of entertainment, making it easier than ever for customers to enjoy entertainment as part of their everyday lives.”
With Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT, Rakuten Mobile subscribers gain even more benefits. Existing perks already include access to digital content like Rakuten Magazine and Rakuten Music, as well as Rakuten Link, Rakuten Mobile's communication app, and international roaming. Additionally, customers can unlock even greater savings through Rakuten Mobile's popular programs, including the Saikyo Youth Program and the Saikyo Kids Program.
To mark the arrival of the new package, Rakuten Mobile is launching the U-NEXT Early Access campaign starting June 23, 2025. This limited-time offer gives Rakuten Saikyo Plan subscribers the chance to try unlimited data and U-NEXT access for essentially just 2,000 yen (2,200 yen including tax) for the first month. As an added bonus, subscribers will receive an additional 1,200 points from U-NEXT.
https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/...20250623_01_lang_en
By Evagoras
June 19, 2025
Do you need to send money to Greece from Germany? Whether you’re supporting family, paying bills, or sending a gift, this guide will walk you through how Viber Pay can be your best option for transferring funds safely, quickly, and affordably. Sending money internationally can seem complicated, but Viber Pay simplifies the process, offering a seamless experience right within the Viber app.
Comparing Viber Pay to Other Options
While traditional bank transfers and other money transfer services are available, Viber Pay offers unique advantages:
Integration: Viber Pay is seamlessly integrated into the Viber app, making it more convenient than using a separate app or visiting a physical branch.
Speed: Viber Pay offers instant transfers, while bank transfers can take several business days.
Cost: Money transfers between Viber Pay wallets are completely free
Sending money to Greece from Germany is now easier than ever with Viber Pay. Its convenience, speed, security, and competitive fees make it an excellent choice for anyone who needs to transfer funds quickly and reliably. By following this guide, you can set up your Viber Pay account and start sending money to your loved ones in Greece with just a few taps!
https://www.viber.com/en/blog/2025-06-19/...Viber%2520Pay%2520wallet.
by Fabio Duarte
Last Updated: June 24, 2025
https://explodingtopics.com/blog/top-social-media-platforms
Shares of Tejas Networks rallied 5% to their day’s high of Rs 732.30 on the BSE on Thursday, June 26, following the announcement of a strategic partnership with Japan-based Rakuten Symphony.
Last Updated: Jun 26, 2025, 09:50:00 AM IST
“Rakuten Symphony and Tejas Networks, a Tata Group company, today announced a multi-faceted strategic partnership to develop integrated Open RAN solutions and engage in joint go-to-market efforts, both in India and internationally,” the company said in an exchange filing.
As per a joint statement released on Wednesday, the collaboration aims to develop integrated Open RAN (Radio Access Network) solutions and jointly pursue go-to-market efforts in India and globally.
The partnership will see the two companies integrate Rakuten Symphony’s CU and DU software, OSS, and cloud portfolio with Tejas’s proven 4G/5G radio offerings. By leveraging commercial and technical synergies and collaborative engagement strategies, the collaboration seeks to drive the deployment and expansion of next-generation 4G and 5G networks, including in India.
https://m.economictimes.com/markets/stocks/news/...show/122081825.cms
https://www.angelone.in/news/...ckid=3eb545a8a0016c4e121753bfa1d36d44
9 hours ago
Rakuten is using Anthropic’s AI coding agent, Claude Code, to transform software development, enabling their engineering teams to automate coding tasks that accelerate time to market while reliably powering AI features for millions of customers.
Key results with Claude Code
Achieved 7 hours of sustained autonomous coding on a complex open-source refactoring project
Reduced time to market for new features by 79% (from 24 days to 5 days)
Delivered 99.9% accuracy on complex code modifications
Empowering every team to innovate at speed
With over 70 businesses spanning e-commerce, travel, fintech, digital content and communications, Rakuten is using AI to better serve their customers, business partners and employees. “We want to give all our teams the power to innovate quickly and drive greater impact for customers faster,” said Yusuke Kaji, General Manager of AI for Business at Rakuten. “It’s about multiplying what each team can achieve, not just automating existing tasks.”
The scale of Rakuten’s ambition presented unique challenges. With thousands of developers serving millions of customers, they needed AI to accelerate time to market while maintaining enterprise-grade quality and security standards. “Speed and ROI are our key metrics,” Kaji explained. “We measure success by how quickly we can deliver value to customers, not just how fast AI can write code.”
Rakuten is weaving AI throughout its entire business operations as part of its “AI-nization” strategy. This includes building AI agents and large language models from the ground up, giving the company a unique understanding of the technology’s potential. That foundational approach, coupled with a commitment to providing Rakuten employees with the best tools available, inspired the team to push the boundaries of AI-assisted software development.
Selecting Claude Code for enterprise-scale development
Rakuten’s evaluation of existing AI coding tools revealed a consistent problem: most required constant human guidance and couldn’t navigate complex, multi-language codebases. Claude Code solved both issues, delivering genuine autonomous development at enterprise scale.
This autonomy has started to multiply engineering capacity across Rakuten. “You can have five tasks running in parallel by delegating four to Claude Code while focusing on the remaining one,” Kaji explained.
An inflection point came when Kenta Naruse, Machine Learning Engineer, tested Claude Code’s capabilities by giving it a complex technical task: implement a specific activation vector extraction method in vLLM, a massive open-source library with 12.5 million lines of code in multiple programming languages. Claude Code finished the entire job in seven hours of autonomous work in a single run. “I didn’t write any code during those seven hours,” Naruse recalled. “I just provided occasional guidance.” The implementation achieved 99.9% numerical accuracy compared to the reference method, reinforcing that Claude Code could handle Rakuten’s advanced engineering challenges.
This breakthrough, combined with Anthropic’s commitment to responsible AI that aligned with Rakuten’s values, convinced leadership that Claude Code could transform their development process.
Transforming development workflows across the organization
Instead of retrofitting existing processes with AI, Rakuten redesigned their development workflows around Claude Code’s capabilities.
Engineers use Claude Code throughout the development lifecycle: writing unit tests, mocking APIs, building components, fixing bugs and generating documentation. New team members leverage Claude to understand complex codebases and architectural decisions, dramatically accelerating their ability to contribute meaningfully to projects.
This accelerated development directly benefits Rakuten’s organization and customers alike. Teams ship features in days instead of weeks with augmented workflows:
AI-powered code review: Provides instant feedback on pull requests, improving code quality and development speed
Parallel development: Runs multiple Claude Code sessions simultaneously to eliminate bottlenecks and accelerate feature delivery
The transformation extends to how individual developers work. Diego Mateos, Senior Machine Learning Engineer at Rakuten, discovered Claude Code changed his approach to coding, saying “I wasn’t naturally using test-driven development before, but Claude Code makes it so easy. It generates comprehensive tests instantly, then builds features that pass them. It’s completely changed how I develop and made me a much more efficient engineer.”
Achieving measurable business impact
The results have been impactful for both Rakuten’s business and their employees. Engineering teams saw their average time to market for new features drop from 24 working days to 5 days—a 79% reduction that changed how Rakuten delivers innovation. “Our time to market has been significantly brought down because Claude Code gives us those super powers to make executions much, much faster,” said Manoj Desai, Manager at Rakuten’s AI Empowerment Section. The seven-hour autonomous coding session became a turning point for Rakuten. “After the announcement, teams from across the company were asking about it,” Naruse shared. “When I explained that Claude Code did it with minimal human input, people were stunned. They realized this could transform how we build software.”
Beyond speed, Claude Code has democratized development capabilities across Rakuten. “We asked non-engineers to use Claude Code as well,” said Kaji. “Thanks to the terminal interface, colleagues from non-technical roles can contribute to coding projects without directly editing code. With appropriate context and coding guidelines, Claude Code acts as a safety guardrail.” This expansion of contributors to technical projects has accelerated innovation velocity, one of Rakuten’s key metrics alongside test coverage and “AI-nization ratio.”
The success has inspired even more ambitious projects. Naruse is now building an “ambient agent” that breaks complex tasks into 24 parallel Claude Code sessions, each handling different aspects of updating Rakuten’s massive monorepo. This project would typically take over a month to complete manually.
Rakuten and Anthropic: Building the future of AI-powered development
Following successful pilot implementations, Rakuten’s leadership is committed to scaling Claude Code access across their massive developer organization. The company is expanding Claude Code’s capabilities from handling quick tasks to managing complex, multi-hour workflows that will become routine parts of development.
“Claude Code is not just a tool—it’s part of our AI journey,” said Desai. This journey, built on shared values between Rakuten and Anthropic around developing helpful, honest and harmless AI, aims to responsibly transform how software is created and delivered to customers.
Rakuten’s AI-nization offers a blueprint for enterprise transformation. By giving thousands of employees access to AI that can code autonomously and significantly augment engineers’ capabilities, Rakuten is creating an organization where technical barriers no longer limit innovation. Complex technical challenges become manageable, non-engineers can contribute to development and customer features ship in days instead of months.
https://rakuten.today/blog/...elopment-with-claude-code%ef%bf%bc.html
1 day ago
Late last year, Rakuten Securities launched a brand-new asset-building app designed with first-time investors in mind: iGrow. Developed by a team of young Rakuten Securities employees, the app aims to cut through the noise and strip away the complexity of investing for a smoother, more intuitive way to manage long-term financial goals.
iGrow represents a major move in Rakuten Securities’ push to empower the next generation of investors – especially those in their 20s and 30s, who are driving much of the platform’s growth.
Making finance friendly
Rakuten Securities users have long relied on the platform’s iSPEED app to manage their portfolios. In fact, iSPEED was one of the Rakuten Group’s very first apps, launching on the Apple Store as early as 2008. iGrow, however, is shooting for a different experience, tailored specifically to newer investors.
While iSPEED is packed with functionality for seasoned traders, the sheer depth and volume of options can be intimidating for beginners. iGrow seeks to address this by trimming down the experience to just what new investors actually need, with a streamlined, user-friendly interface that doesn’t sacrifice any key functionality.
The app allows users to check on their Rakuten Securities assets, trade in investment trusts, and manage their iDeCo and NISA accounts – all in one place. It also connects to Rakuten Bank, letting users view deposit balances, and even their Rakuten Points. Regular investments can be tracked with push notifications and a simple calendar feature.
Another standout feature of the app is its robo-advisor savings diagnosis tool, which provides a snapshot of a user’s portfolio health, breaking down the data into simple visuals for actionable insights.
Young Rakutenians welcome new investors
In recent years, Rakuten Securities has seen a significant influx of younger users, with investors in their 30s and below making up 54% of all new accounts in 2024. iGrow was built specifically to empower this demographic and support them through the next 30 years of their financial journey.
“Previously, Rakuten Securities lacked an app for users engaged in long-term asset building,” explains Taichi Hatakeyama, who joined Rakuten in 2022 and oversaw iGrow’s asset management interface.
“To ease anxiety about investing and encourage long-term asset building, we believe it is important to provide a user-friendly design that allows for easy portfolio tracking and transactions. In addition, helping users to view their portfolio from different viewpoints can serve as an opportunity to make their next investment decisions.”
“We took on the challenge of developing our first large-scale app by starting from zero and defining the branding, app function and design,” she recounts. “We always considered the customer’s point of view, never confined ourselves to the boundaries of a finance app, and moved the project forward without compromise and with fresh ideas from young team members. Going forward, we will expand product offerings and level up existing functions, evolving to further support customers in their asset-building journey.”
Capitalizing on the success of Toshiru
Since 2017, Rakuten Securities has operated the investor learning hub Toshiru – a portmanteau of the Japanese words for investment and know. The hub has become a trusted source of financial education for beginners and experienced investors alike, thanks to its clear explainers, expert insights, interviews and video tutorials.
Building on that success, the iGrow team integrated a social media-style newsfeed into their app, delivering curated financial news and asset tips from Toshiru and other trusted sources such as Reuters. By making this content easily accessible, the team hopes that iGrow users will have everything they need to start investing with confidence.
Betting on the younger generation
iGrow is Rakuten Securities’ endeavor to reshape what investing looks like for young users in Japan, lowering the barrier to entry with intuitive design, smart features and powerful insights.
By putting the app into the hands of the very demographic it’s built for – both as users and developers – Rakuten Securities is empowering the next generation of investors for long-term success.
https://rakuten.today/blog/...ans-empower-new-investors-in-japan.html
June 26, 2025
Rakuten Mobile said the trial is part of a government initiative aimed at testing AI technologies that enhance public safety while reducing network strain
In sum – what to know:
Rakuten tests edge AI at stadium – Rakuten Mobile, AWL, and Vissel Kobe launched a smart surveillance trial in Kobe using edge AI to reduce network load and enhance stadium safety.
AI-powered data filtering in real time – Cameras detect risks and compress video based on urgency and network traffic, helping reduce mobile data use and support faster security response.
Portable security for diverse venues – The project aims to create easy-to-deploy, mobile AI-based security systems suitable for stadiums, parks, shops, transport hubs and rural areas.
https://www.rcrwireless.com/20250626/carriers/rakuten-mobile-edge-ai
Thu, June 26, 2025
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS) the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced the successful demonstration of the world’s first Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) tactical satellite communications delivering high-throughput data, voice, and video using unmodified mobile devices in collaboration with Fairwinds Technologies (a privately held company).
This milestone demonstration was conducted near AST SpaceMobile’s gateway facility on Oahu, Hawaii, with active participation from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), including representation from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, U.S. Space Command, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E) FutureG team.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...nologies-demonstrate-113000447.html
- New lucky draw offers Rakuten Monkeys fans a chance to take the field at Rakuten Super Game
Taipei, June 27, 2025 – Rakuten Group, Inc. and Taiwan Rakuten Baseball, Inc. today announced the return of Rakuten Super Game on July 25 at Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium. Now in its fifth year, the annual event aims to unite professional baseball with Rakuten’s Taiwan Ecosystem in a festive summer atmosphere.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/update/2025/0627_02.html
June 23, 2025, 16:23 GMT
Growing penetration of the Internet and smartphones, increasing usage of social media and social commerce, advancement of multiple payment modes drive the growth of the global digital commerce market. On the other hand, online frauds and several cyber security issues restrain the growth to some extent.
The global digital commerce market was estimated at $4.21 trillion in 2020 and is anticipated to hit $17.53 trillion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 15.1% from 2021 to 2030. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive scenario, and varying market trends.
The global digital commerce market is analyzed across components, browsing methods, payment modes, business types, industry vertical, and region.
The key market players analyzed in the global digital commerce industry report include Best Buy, Amazon.com, Inc., JD.com, Inc., Otto GmbH & Co, Rakuten, Inc., Walmart, Inc., The Home Depot, Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Shopify, Inc., and eBay, Inc. These market players have adhered to several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to prove their flair in the industry.
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/824838463/...ied-market-research
April 16
Rakuten Kobo's subscription service, "Kobo Plus," is expanding worldwide, and we report from the event to mark its latest launch in Singapore and Malaysia. With millions of eBooks and audiobooks available in multiple languages, Kobo Plus aims to remove price barriers, encouraging readers to explore new authors and genres across multiple devices, including eReaders, apps, and tablets. Watch this video to learn how Kobo Plus is transforming the reading experience for users worldwide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oraSMpCE72g
June 27, 2025
Rakuten Mobile and U-NEXT Co., Ltd. have announced "Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT," a new package that allows unlimited data usage for viewing U-NEXT, which is a video streaming platform offering movies, dramas, anime, e-books, and more, boasting the largest number of unlimited streaming titles in Japan. This new package, offered at the very affordable price of 3,880 yen per month (4,268 yen including tax), is scheduled to begin accepting applications in October 2025.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR1ycHYdsyU
Source: FY2025 First Quarter Consolidated Financial Results May 14, 2025
If we divide the last yearly progress of 25.1 billion Yen through 4 = a quarterly progress of 6.3 billion yen. The results in the quarters of 2025 will be by the same progress:
Q1/25 = - 0.3 billion yen
Q1/25 = + 6.0 billion yen
Q1/25 = + 12.3 billion yen
Q1/25 = + 18.6 billion yen
That are together a Non-GAAP Operating Income of 36.6 billion yen ($ 0.25 billion) in 2025.
Q1/26 = + 24.9 billion yen
Q1/26 = + 31.2 billion yen
Q1/25 = + 37.5 billion yen
Q1/25 = + 43.8 billion yen
That are together a Non-GAAP Operating Income of 137.4 billion yen ($ 0.95 billion) in 2026.
A valuation of a P/E of 20 on the base of a Non-GAAP Operating Income $ 0.95 billion = $19 billion.
Source: FY2025 First Quarter Consolidated Financial Results May 14, 2025
Three months ended March 31, 2025: 79,889 millions of Yen
Three months ended March 31, 2024: 52,766 millions of Yen
We believe that EBITDA is a useful indicator for evaluating the cash flow generation ability of the Rakuten Group's business activities.
Source: FY2025 First Quarter Consolidated Financial Results May 14, 2025