Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
It is worth noting that in 2023, Rakuten Viber strengthened its ecosystem as a superapp, introducing additional services, partnering with major companies. Among the important collaborations was the integration of the AI, Kuki. The Kuki chatbot on Viber has over 720 thousand unique subscribers who have generated over 21.7 million messages, with Greece ranking third worldwide in terms of its users. Another AI-related activity featured was the introduction of AI Bot Powered by ChatGPT into the app.
In detail the company showed a 5% increase in the number of messages sent via Viber compared to the previous year, a trend that marks the third consecutive year during which messages were the top communication option for Greek users. The number of participants in group discussions also rose 16%, with most users actively participating. Viber Payments reached 1 million wallets worldwide in 2023 and Greece continues to lead the evolution of this service as it is the first country to introduce group payments.
On the corporate customer side, small businesses in Greece became one of the first worldwide to use the recently introduced free business account that allows small businesses to communicate with their customers, promote their services, increase their sales and activities.
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1572855/...m-supperapp-in-greece/
Berina Tanovic Sales Director at Rakuten Viber
November 3, 2023
https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/blog/post/...-a-path-to-success/
It is worth noting that in 2023, Rakuten Viber strengthened its ecosystem as a superapp, introducing additional services, partnering with major companies. Among the important collaborations was the integration of the AI, Kuki. The Kuki chatbot on Viber has over 720 thousand unique subscribers who have generated over 21.7 million messages, with Greece ranking third worldwide in terms of its users. Another AI-related activity featured was the introduction of AI Bot Powered by ChatGPT into the app.
In detail the company showed a 5% increase in the number of messages sent via Viber compared to the previous year, a trend that marks the third consecutive year during which messages were the top communication option for Greek users. The number of participants in group discussions also rose 16%, with most users actively participating. Viber Payments reached 1 million wallets worldwide in 2023 and Greece continues to lead the evolution of this service as it is the first country to introduce group payments.
On the corporate customer side, small businesses in Greece became one of the first worldwide to use the recently introduced free business account that allows small businesses to communicate with their customers, promote their services, increase their sales and activities.
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/english/1572855/...m-supperapp-in-greece/
Jan 12, 2024
https://engage.sinch.com/blog/viber-business-account/
B2B trading platforms such as globy.com play a key role in driving business activity between businesses. These platforms provide a digital space where companies can exchange goods, services and information, improving efficiency and streamlining procurement processes.
In Greece, as noted in the text, small businesses were among the first to use free business accounts. This indicates a growing interest in online B2B platforms that provide businesses with tools to effectively interact with customers, promote their products and services, and increase overall business activity.
B2B platforms also often include order management tools, analytics and other features that help businesses make informed decisions and optimize their operations. This contributes to the creation of a digital ecosystem where businesses can interact and grow in an online environment.
52 New Ookla Market Reports Available for Q4 2023
Mark Giles | January 16, 2024
Ookla Market Reports identify key data about internet performance in countries across the world. This quarter we’ve provided updated analyses for 52 markets using Speedtest Intelligence and summarized the top takeaways below.
Japan: Rakuten Mobile recorded the fastest mobile download and upload speeds during Q4 2023 in Japan, at 51.16 Mbps and 20.21 Mbps, respectively. Rakuten Mobile also recorded the highest Consistency in the market at 90.6%, while SoftBank recorded the lowest median latency at 43 ms. So-net had the fastest fixed download and upload speeds, at 296.29 Mbps and 219.53 Mbps, respectively, as well as the lowest median latency over fixed broadband at 9 ms. SpaceX Starlink recorded the highest fixed broadband Consistency in the market at 96.4%.
https://www.ookla.com/articles/market-reports-q4-2023
Die Rakuten Bank Gewinn Historie
JAHR§GEWINN (Mrd. JPY)
2026e43,52
2025e 37,25
2024e 32,65
2023 27,69
2022 20,04
2021 19,34
§
https://eulerpool.com/aktie/Rakuten-Bank-Aktie-JP3967220009/Gewinn
Veröffentlicht von F. Harms, 02.01.2024
E-Book-Markt in Deutschland wächst: Im Jahr 2022 wurden rund 469 Millionen Euro Umsatz mit elektronischen Büchern (Belletristik) erwirtschaftet, was rund 19 Millionen Euro über dem Vorjahreswert lag. Nach der Prognose von PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) wird der Umsatz bis zum Jahr 2027 weiter auf rund 539 Millionen Euro ansteigen.
https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/...tikmarkt-seit-2009/
24 Jan 2024
The growing competition in the Open RAN domain is expected to develop the Open RAN ecosystem in the next couple of years. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts the Open RAN market will continue an upward, albeit slow, growth trajectory to reach 6% to 8% of the overall RAN market by the end of 2024.
“Currently, Open RAN vendors including Samsung, Mavenir, NEC, Fujitsu, Rakuten Symphony and Parallel Wireless hold around 95-97% of total open RAN market share whereas, incumbent vendors including Ericsson started to develop their Open RAN ecosystem and the industry is expected to see a turn-around during the second half of 2024,” states Saqlain Ali, 5G, 6G and Open RAN Senior Analyst at ABI Research.
“While the open RAN ecosystem is not mature, small-scale deployments will continue for the next few years. However, with further advancements related to open RAN silicon, multi-vendor interoperability, and testing, and the availability of RIC and ULPI interface for Massive MIMO could result in more favorable results, and an inflection point could happen between 2027 and 2028," Ali concludes.
https://www.abiresearch.com/press/...ng-rakuten-symphony-and-mavenir/
Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)--Rakuten Securities Inc. is on track to mark a record new account openings in January, thanks to the expansion of Japan's NISA small-lot investment program and the country's robust stock market, President Yuji Kusunoki said in an interview with Jiji Press on Wednesday.
The number of general securities accounts opened by individuals at the major Japanese online brokerage this month is seen exceeding the previous record monthly high of 250,000 marked in March 2021, Kusunoki said, suggesting that the pace of new account openings picked up in December 2023.
The total number of accounts at the brokerage surpassed 10 million last month, he added.
The growth partly reflects account openings by beginner investors looking to trade under the NISA, or Nippon Individual Savings Account, scheme, because its expansion this month significantly raised limits on tax-free investments and scrapped maximum tax exemption periods.
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2024012400975/
Jeff Kim, Deputy CEO at Qucell Networks, shares insights into his role and delves into the dynamic collaboration between Qucell Networks and Rakuten Symphony, explaining the journey from Wi-Fi small cells to pioneering combo solutions, with a steadfast focus on achieving seamless connectivity and advancing 5G network automation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ooJAeNieyQ
Shelton, CT, January 17, 2024 — TMC, a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in person and online, today announced the recipients of the 2023 Backup and Disaster Recovery Awards, presented by Cloud Computing magazine.
The Cloud Computing Backup and Disaster Recovery Award recognizes technologies and vendors that have built cloud solutions empowering businesses small or large to remain active and productive under even the most challenging conditions, minimizing lost business opportunities.
“I offer congratulations to the winners of the Cloud Computing Backup and Disaster Recovery Award,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC (News - Alert). “The winning solutions are enabling organizations to feel confident during regular business, and reassured in stressful situations. I look forward to seeing continued innovation from these award recipients.”
2023 Cloud Computing Backup and Disaster Recovery Award Winners:
CompanyProduct
§
11:11 Systems: 11:11 DRaaS
Backblaze: Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage
BackBox: Network Automation Platform
Bluebird Network: Bluebird Underground Data Center
Nextiva: Nextiva CCaaS Platform
NUSO: NUSOflex
OTAVA: OTAVA DRaaS, Backup and Cloud Data Protection
Rakuten Symphony: Rakuten Symphony Symcloud Storage
Skytap: Skytap
Spin.AI: SpinOne SaaS Backup & Recovery
Vembu Technologies: BDRSuite
Zerto, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company: Zerto 10
Winning the 2023 Cloud Computing Backup and Disaster Recovery Award can be valuable for several reasons.
https://cloud-computing.tmcnet.com/breaking-news/...ckup-disaster.htm
YearPrice-Sales-Ratio
2024e 0.45
2023e 0.44
2022 0.60
2021 1.14
2020 0.93
2019 1.19
2018 0.89
2017 2.01
2016 2.20
2015 4.00
2014 2.93
2013 2.89
2012 2.50
2011 2.82
2010 2.48
2009 2.26
2008 2.89
2007 2.51
2006 4.89
2005 7.45
2004 20.59
2003 10.50
§
https://eulerpool.com/aktie/Rakuten-Group-Acci%C3%B3n-JP3967200001/KUV
January 25, 2024
Rakutenians (Rakuten employees) from all around the world dance to welcome the new year. Watch employees from Tokyo, Taipei, Luxembourg, San Mateo, and many more locations put on their creative, fun, and energetic performance. Also, catch appearances from our sports teams and Rakuten Ichiba merchants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz4ULrbjhNs
January 25, 2024
Rakuten Group, Inc. (“Rakuten”) announced that it has commenced tender offers (the “Offers”) to purchase for cash for a combined aggregate purchase price (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest) of up to $1 billion (the “Total Maximum Amount”) of the following series of notes issued by it:
• 10.250% Senior Notes due 2024 (Rule 144A—CUSIP: 75102W AD0; ISIN: US75102WAD02; Common Code: 254337714; Reg.S— CUSIP: J64264 AC8; ISIN: USJ64264AC82; Common Code: 254635782) (the “10.250% Notes”); and
• 3.546% Senior Notes due 2024 (Reg.S— CUSIP: n/a; ISIN: XS2080765154; Common Code: 208076515) (the “3.546% Notes” and, together with the 10.250% Notes, the “Notes” and each series of the Notes, a “series of Notes”).
Rakuten is engaging in the Offers, and related Financing Transaction (as defined below), to proactively manage and extend the maturity profile of its debt. The Offers are being made pursuant and are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated January 25, 2024 (the “Offer to Purchase”), available via the offer website: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/rakuten/ (the “Offer Website”), including a condition to the Offers of the completion by Rakuten of the private placements of senior notes announced concurrently with the Offers (the “Financing Transaction”) to fund the Total Consideration for Notes to be purchased pursuant to the Offers, on terms and subject to conditions reasonably satisfactory to Rakuten (the “Financing Condition”). Rakuten expects to fund the Offers with the net proceeds from the Financing Transaction and cash on hand. After the settlement of the Offers, we also intend to make further offers to purchase certain of our Japanese-yen denominated senior bonds scheduled to mature in or after 2024. To the extent that proceeds from the Financing Transaction remain after the settlement of the Offers, we intend to use such proceeds as part of the funds for such offers or otherwise to reduce our bonds outstanding.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2024/0125_05.html
Published Fri, Jan 26, 2024
JAPANESE technology conglomerate Rakuten Group plans to sell a US dollar bond and repurchase notes maturing this year, as speculative-grade borrowers seize on robust investor demand and the company addresses its debt load.
The company said on Thursday (Jan 25) that as part of “proactive debt maturity efforts” it would issue three-year notes. Rakuten concurrently launched a tender offer for as much as US$1 billion of bonds maturing this year, of which there’s US$1.75 billion outstanding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
A US$1 billion non-callable bond due 2027 from Rakuten is expected to price next week, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because they are not authorised to speak about it.
After the US dollar-note sale and tender offer close, Rakuten plans to repurchase yen-denominated senior bond due to mature starting in 2024, it said.
The two dollar bonds part of the company’s tender offer both mature in November, have coupons of 10.25 per cent and 3.546 per cent.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/art/2901968
Rakuten Plans $1 Billion Bond Sale in Debt Extension Effort
Sri Taylor and Takahiko Hyuga
Fri, January 26, 2024 at 4:50 AM GMT+1
(Bloomberg) -- Rakuten Group Inc., a rare major Japanese company to experience stress in credit markets, plans to sell a junk dollar bond as it tries to push back obligations.
The technology conglomerate’s shares rose as much as 4.5% in Tokyo Friday after it said a day earlier that it would issue three-year notes and repurchase debt maturing this year. Rakuten is expected to price a $1 billion non-callable bond due 2027 next week, according a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak about it.
To raise funds, the company has sold equity in itself and several units. Rakuten said last month it was shedding 14% of its online bank, which listed last year. Mikitani said this week that the company is ramping up marketing for its loss-making mobile unit and pitching wireless services to corporate partners.
Still, credit market data signal continued concern about the health of its balance sheet. The cost to insure against debt nonpayment with credit-default swaps was at 408 basis points on Thursday, after surging to 784 basis points in July last year, according to CMA data.
And while Rakuten’s bonds have rebounded from lows marked last year, they remain below par levels. Its 5.125% dollar perpetual notes traded at about 86 cents, after sinking to about 57 cents in July, Bloomberg-compiled data show.
Rakuten also launched a tender offer for as much as $1 billion of bonds maturing this year, of which there’s $1.75 billion outstanding, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
After the dollar-note sale and tender offer close, Rakuten plans to repurchase yen-denominated senior bonds due to mature starting in 2024, it said.
The two dollar bonds that are part of the company’s tender offer both mature in November and have coupons of 10.25% and 3.546%.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...plans-1-billion-bond-035019267.html
CEO Mikitani: Rakuten is well-positioned for the AI age
12 hours ago
This is going to be one of the biggest businesses in human history.”
At the recent Rakuten Technology Conference, one topic dominated discussion: the rise of AI. During his keynote in Tokyo, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani underscored just how important this up-and-coming tech is for Rakuten.
“Rakuten wants to use AI to empower people, make our work more efficient, make our products better, make our services even richer – and make it really simple.”
2023 was a year of astonishing progress in the fields of generative AI and natural language processing. But in order to ensure that everyone has equal access to this powerful tech, Mikitani stressed that leadership from companies like Rakuten will be paramount.
“AI may be even bigger than anything we have seen over the last 30 years of internet innovation,” he told the audience. “To make this AI usable, entrepreneurship will be very important.”
Teaming up with OpenAI to leverage Rakuten’s powerful data
At Rakuten’s summer Optimism conference, Mikitani was joined onstage virtually by none other than OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to announce a collaboration between the two companies. “Why are OpenAI and other AI companies interested in doing business with us?” Mikitani posed. The answer is clear: data.
“If you think about it, is there any company like Rakuten in the world? Credit card, banking, brokerage, travel, e-commerce, points, insurance – all this data, under one data set. No other companies have the data set we have. So, if we train it, it is going to become super powerful,” Mikitani predicted. “We’re not just talking about online shopping – we’re talking about how we can use our data, utilizing generative AI and making our users’ experience much richer.”
This level of data diversity under a single roof is rare in the tech industry – even among major data-driven Silicon Valley companies.
“They have behavioral data but they do not have transactional data,” Mikitani explained. “So that’s very unique.”
Empowering Japanese businesses with AI tools
Another reason AI companies are eager to do business with Rakuten is the company’s deep roots in the local business community.
“We do business with 900,000 clients in Japan. Many AI companies don’t know how to train or tailor generative AI so that these companies can use it. We are planning to empower our merchants, hotels, and everyone with AI so that not only us, but our clients, merchants and partners can really enjoy utilizing AI.”
Mikitani touched on the recent unveiling of the Rakuten AI for Business platform powered by OpenAI. The platform’s goal is to make AI useful for businesses of any and all sizes and industries.
“Not only for automating editing of stores – we’re going to use it for marketing, sales, customer support, operation, maybe strategic planning, and of course engineering,” Mikitani said. “We wanted to really make sure that we don’t just talk about it, but get it done.”
Within Rakuten’s own ecosystem, meanwhile, engineers have been busy conducting trials of AI-powered search and recommendations technology – a core part of the e-commerce business. The tech utilizes semantic search, which carries out searches not just on the keywords being searched for but also their meaning.
“I want to go to a picnic today but it’s a little bit cold. Give me a jacket. Now our search feature will answer that query. Before, there was no answer,” Mikitani said. The tech is already in play on Rakuten Fashion: “We have improved our GMS transaction through search by 5%.”
But Rakuten isn’t looking to stop at e-commerce.
“What we want to do is not just transactions. For example, ID checks, KYC, automation, customer center operations, automated response, advertising,” Mikitani listed. “And of course, logistics – we’re going to use AI in warehouse operations, picking and packing, routing and delivery, price and inventory management, and search optimization.”
Rakuten Mobile is AI-ready
The launch of Rakuten Mobile had a major impact on Japan’s telecommunications industry, driving average cell costs down dramatically. Thanks to Rakuten’s efforts to democratize the mobile market, using a cell phone is now significantly cheaper in Japan.
The cutting-edge tech that Rakuten employed to achieve this also lends itself particularly well to taking advantage of AI tech.
“What we’ve done with Rakuten Mobile is we basically disaggregated hardware and software,” Mikitani explained. “We want to bring in AI to operate our network.”
Older mobile carriers primarily rely on physical hardware to operate their networks, meaning all maintenance, upgrades and changes must be carried out on inflexible, physical machines over a vast geographical area. Rakuten’s software-centric network, meanwhile, can leverage software-based tech innovations like AI much more easily.
“We are bringing automation to wireless networks,” Mikitani declared. “Scaling, healing – everything will be done by AI. That’s what Rakuten Mobile is… We can do this because we are not trapped by hardware.”
Placing AI at the center of the Rakuten Ecosystem
“We would like to really make sure that AI is our friend,” Mikitani stressed. “I think we’re very unique because of the data set we have, the people we have, and the culture of Rakuten… I think we are one of the few companies in Japan with the ability to develop top-class generative AI.”
Rakuten’s AI strategy will be driven by a mix of in-house innovation and strategic partnerships. But Mikitani was clear that Rakuten must do more than simply use other companies’ tools.
“We’re not talking about AI as one of our tools. AI is going to be at the center of our ecosystem.”
https://rakuten.today/blog/...-is-well-positioned-for-the-ai-age.html
Veröffentlicht von L. Lohmeier, 03.01.2024
Im dritten Quartal 2023 hat das Internetunternehmen Rakuten einen Umsatz in Höhe von rund 518 Milliarden Yen erwirtschaftet. Dies entspricht einem Umsatzwachstum von knapp zehn Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahresquartal.
https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/...ten-nach-quartalen/
1 year Rakuten Inc ADR Forecast: 6.429327835554
5 year Rakuten Inc ADR Forecast: 16.103
https://gov.capital/stock/rkuny-stock/
By Keith Dyer 26 January 2024
Within the decline, there are some growth areas, however. Even if these aren’t enough to offset the overall decline Dell’Oro expected to see growth in mMIMO, Open RAN, vRAN, small cells, mmWave and private networks.
https://the-mobile-network.com/2024/01/...-explain-ericssons-att-win/
January 24, 2024
https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/blog/post/...ith-business-calls/