Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

Regarding the Results of the MIC’s "Survey Related to Use of Frequency Bands in Mobile Communications Systems"

Tokyo, April 19, 2023 - Rakuten Mobile, Inc. today announced the following statement in response to the results of the "Survey Related to Use of Frequency Bands in Mobile Communications Systems" published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan.

Rakuten Mobile has advocated for the “democratization of the mobile phone market” since entering the market. In order to foster fair competition in Japan and to further build and develop telecommunications networks, we are participating in various discussions on spectrum policy within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) to request the prompt allocation of the platinum band to include new industry entrants, as this frequency band is essential to realizing optimal connectivity for mobile communications services.

In the Survey Related to Use of Frequency Bands in Mobile Communications Systems, Rakuten Mobile requested the prompt allocation of the platinum band’s potential new options for 3MHz systems within the 700MHz band. In the event that we are allocated platinum band spectrum, we will utilize our network technology and existing base station sites to conduct an efficient base station rollout that is both flexible and cost-effective in order to provide stable and high-quality services to our customers.

https://corp.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/english/news/...20230419_01_lang_en  

Overseas portion was still more than 15 times oversubscribed

Demand from overseas investors was so strong at the lowered price that bankers ultimately increased the portion of IPO available to overseas investors, filings showed.

The overseas portion was still more than 15 times oversubscribed, Daiwa said.

https://kfgo.com/2023/04/19/...etails-on-troubled-parent-sources-say/  

Market-cap of Rakuten Bank increased $0.68 billon to $2.48 billion after IPO-valuation of $1.8 billion

Rakuten owning 63% - a gain of 63% from $0.68 billion = about $0.43 billion ($430 million)

https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/5838.T-JP  

TOKYO, April 21 (Reuters) - Japan's Rakuten Bank Ltd (5838.T) saw its share price surge as much as 40% in its market debut on Friday, reflecting robust demand for the country's biggest online lender even after it downsized its $625 million initial public offering (IPO).

The stock ended the trading day at 1,930 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange versus an IPO price of 1,400 yen.

Rakuten Bank Chief Executive Hiroyuki Nagai told a news conference the lender has no need to sell any more new shares, at least until March 2027 when its mid-term business plan ends.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/...fter-625-mln-ipo-2023-04-21/  

Die divergente Entwicklung bei Rakuten (Gesamtunternehmen) und Rakuten Bank sehe ich als Kurschance.  

Rakuten Bank shares surged 40 per cent in the company’s debut on Friday, marking Tokyo’s biggest initial public offering since the listing of SoftBank’s mobile unit in 2018. The internet bank, which is Japan’s largest by number of customers and has been spun out of Rakuten, the country’s biggest ecommerce company, raised $625 million in an IPO after lowering its valuation ahead of the listing.

“I am not at all surprised that the Rakuten Bank shares have done this,” said Travis Lundy, an independent analyst who publishes on SmartKarma. “It IPOed at a discount to the major Japanese banks, it has a higher expected growth rate and a higher return on equity, so it was always going to be an asset in demand.”

https://www.ft.com/content/e4dd859d-f56d-40dc-9a69-a4bd3d8a5e6d  

Rakuten Insurance General Information Center Begins Automated Voice Call Service

April 06, 2023

The Rakuten Insurance General Information Center has begun offering an AI-based automated call service to assist in customer inquiries, allowing customers to have access to the service 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The knowledge and experience of contact center team members, as well as the data from over 2 million phone call inquiries, were used to refine the system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Iex1BDoAA
 

https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1403171.html

https://k--tai-watch-impress-co-jp.translate.goog/...amp;_x_tr_pto=sc
 

With the business messaging market flooded with great players ranging from giants like Cisco with Webex Teams to niche vendors like Twist and Rocket Chat, it’s crucial for new entrants to be prepared with a unique proposition. Viber obviously has the desirable position of already having over 1 billion consumer users – not to dissimilar to that of Skype when they were acquired by Microsoft.

Viber for Business position their new collaboration product as highly popular, high quality and low cost. Analytics available suggest Viber should know what they are working with and they are not shy to show they feel they know their audience intimately.The Viber for Business media pack is full of stats and insights showcasing Viber’s intel when it comes to taking their consumer product into the business market. Some of these include:



20 messages are sent per person, per day

30 minutes are spent on calls on Viber per person, per day

Viber is opened 12 times per person, per day

50% of Viber users share photos and videos daily

30% of Viber users are sending stickers each day

Viber go on to comment that their product will boost business productivity in a number of ways. By using Viber for Business, your business should expect an active and engaged audience on a consumer-first platform. Users will experience a premium quality communication environment with a brand that promotes loyalty and conversion. Marketing and service will be improved through active audience enablement and consultative account management.

It is highly refreshing to see a successful consumer-grade app moving into the business market without changing its core principles. Viber for Business will no doubt take off with its already established client base. It will intriguing to see how much of the already clustered marketplace they can leverage from firmly established competitors.

https://www.uctoday.com/collaboration/rakuten-viber-business/  

UNFPA teams up with Viber to raise awareness on early marriage and facilitate information

16 March 2023, Baghdad, Iraq - UNFPA Iraq and Viber have officially launched a social media awareness campaign to promote information-sharing on early marriage in Iraq. The campaign seeks to engage young people in an easy and interactive approach, providing them with the necessary knowledge and information to make informed choices about their lives.

https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/...d-facilitate-information-sharing to raise awareness on early marriage and facilitate information

16 March 2023, Baghdad, Iraq - UNFPA Iraq and Viber have officially launched a social media awareness campaign to promote information-sharing on early marriage in Iraq. The campaign seeks to engage young people in an easy and interactive approach, providing them with the necessary knowledge and information to make informed choices about their lives.

https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/...d-facilitate-information-sharing  

Durch das Abonnieren von Viber Plus werden aufregende neue Dienste und Funktionalitäten verfügbar – exklusiv für Mitglieder des Abonnementclubs

Podgorica, 19. April 2023 Montenegro ist das erste Land der Welt, das Rakuten Viber - ein weltweit führender Anbieter von privaten und sicheren Messaging- und Sprachkommunikation - ausgewählt hat, um seinen Premium-Abonnementdienst den Nutzern zur Verfügung zu stellen. Benutzer aus Montenegro, die sich für ein Abonnement von Viber Plus entscheiden, werden nämlich die ersten auf der Welt sein, die die Möglichkeit haben, neue und aufregende Dienste und Funktionen zu aktivieren – exklusiv für Mitglieder des Abonnementclubs. Selbstverständlich bleiben alle anderen standardmäßigen und bisher täglichen Dienste und Funktionalitäten der Viber-Anwendung für alle Benutzer auf der ganzen Welt kostenlos.

Für nur 1,99 US-Dollar pro Monat profitieren Viber Plus-Abonnenten von den neuen Funktionen, die die App bietet.

Dieser Service wird schrittweise in den Zielregionen der Welt eingeführt – beginnend mit Montenegro, der Tschechischen Republik, der Schweiz, Kuwait und Australien. Weitere Viber Plus-Funktionalitäten befinden sich bereits in der Entwicklungsphase und werden in Kürze eingeführt. Alle derzeit verfügbaren Dienste und Funktionen in der Viber-App bleiben für alle Standard-Viber-Benutzer kostenlos, teilte das Unternehmen mit.

https://magazinbiznis.rs/viber-plus/
 

Warren Buffett’s bet on stodgy Japanese trading companies has made him a small fortune. Investors should take note of the venerable stock picker’s renewed vote of confidence in the country.

In an interview with the Japanese publication Nikkei on Tuesday, Mr. Buffett said he intends to boost Berkshire Hathaway ’s investment in the country’s stocks. He said he has raised the company’s existing stake in five Japanese trading companies: giants like Itochu , Marubeni , Mitsui , Mitsubishi and Sumitomo that operate in the import and export business, domestic wholesale and a cornucopia of other sectors.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/...amp;cx_artPos=5&mod=WTRN#cxrecs_s  

 

Chinese tourists are back, but numbers still far from pre-COVID levels

By Joe Cash and Pasit Kongkunakornkul

April 19, 20235:49 AM GMT+2Last Updated 5 days ago

But, given airlines capacity is yet to fully recover after China kept its borders shut for three years and underlying consumer demand remains weak, the numbers do not compare well with the heyday of Chinese outbound tourism.

In February, over 150,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Thailand, the latest data from the Thai Ministry of Tourism show - a three year high but still 85% below February 2019 levels.

Trips to Japan and South Korea have only recovered to 5%-10% of February 2019 levels.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/...r-pre-covid-levels-2023-04-19/  

 

 

April 20, 2023 by Kryzt Bates

Viber, following the example of Telegram, has made some of its services paid and paid Viber Plus for a cost of $1.99 per month.

It is important that the overpayment of Viber Plus is not an obligatory one, but those who do not want to pay for it, can continue to use all the functionality of the messenger, which is better than before.

This service will be available in a number of countries, in the middle of Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Kuwait and Australia. The rozrobtsi already has additional functionality for Viber Plus, which will be no problem for presentations. All the functions of the messenger that are available at this time will be made free of charge for the most prominent correspondents.

https://www.gamingdeputy.com/...mes-paid-what-changes-for-ukrainians/  

Rakuten Symphony Orchestrates Amazing Impression at MWC Barcelona 2023

April 26, 2023

Rakuten Symphony amazed attendees at MWC Barcelona 2023 through showcasing its industry-changing "Mobile as a Software" concept. Find out what impressive achievements the company shared, including the deployment of the world's largest edge cloud, as well as what attracted visitors to Rakuten Symphony's booth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BtrCOHotnc  

For private investors, expanding your portfolio and finding your next actionable idea can be limited by the high cost of access to quality research and financial tools.

So we're here to help—we've narrowed down a list of Top Entities of interest amongst private investors this week on Smartkarma to help you get started:

Rakuten Bank

Mankind Pharma

ZJLD Group

Tencent

Meituan  

Rakuten Mobile and AST Space Mobile Make History in Space-Based Cellular Connectivity
Via Rakuten Mobile

Apr 26, 2023

- The groundbreaking milestone was reached with support from partners including Rakuten, Vodafone and AT&T, opening opportunities for global 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G cellular broadband access -

MIDLAND, TX, and Tokyo, Japan – Rakuten Mobile, Inc. ("Rakuten Mobile") and AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, today announced the successful completion of the first-ever two-way voice calls, directly to everyday unmodified smartphones using the BlueWalker 3 (“BW3”) satellite. The first voice call was made from the Midland, Texas area to Rakuten in Japan over AT&T spectrum at April 21, 2023 10:31am Japan standard time (Apr 20, 8:31pm CT). This is the first time anyone has ever achieved a direct voice connection from space to everyday cellular devices, demonstrating a significant advancement in AST SpaceMobile's mission to provide broadband services to the nearly 50% of the global population who remain unconnected.

https://www.telecomtv.com/content/...sed-cellular-connectivity-47327/  

Mobile Network Experience Report

APRIL 2023

Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumer mobile experience. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding the true experience consumers receive on wireless networks.

Author: Ian Fogg, VP Analysis Data Collection Period: Dec 01, 2022 - Feb 28, 2023

Rakuten users have the fastest average upload speed

Rakuten wins both the 5G Upload Speed and the overall Upload Speed Experience award again. In the 5G category its score of 29.5Mbps leads second placed SoftBank's score of 21.2Mbps. Impressively, our Rakuten users' overall average upload speed of 18.3Mbps is over twice as fast as users' 9Mbps on second placed SoftBank.

https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2023/04/japan/...etwork-experience  

POSTED ON APRIL 26, 2023 BY DANIEL PEREIRA

https://businessmodelanalyst.com/rakuten-business-model/  

Rakuten Securities announces its consolidated financial reports for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (J-GAAP).

The financial reports of Rakuten Securities, Inc. are based on “Uniform Accounting Standards for

Securities Companies” (set by the Board of Directors of the Japan Securities Dealers Association,

November 14, 1974).

Results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 (January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023)

Consolidated Operating Results* (Millions of yen, rounded down)

Operating revenue Net operating revenue Operating income Ordinary income Net income

Three months ended March 31, 2023

24,633 23,399 5,926 5,724 3,849

Three months ended March 31, 2022

23,312 22,231 3,746 3,432 1,786

Results for the 12 months ended March 31, 2023 (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023)

Consolidated Operating Results (Millions of yen, rounded down)

Operating revenue Net operating revenue Operating income Ordinary income Net income

April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023

96,762 91,700 19,552 19,224 11,346

April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022

89,253 84,668 13,701 13,857 7,23

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2023/...2520ir%2520fintech  

Cabify expandiert in Lateinamerika und Spanien

29. März 2023

„Dieses Engagement strategischer Investoren ist eine Anerkennung des positiven Einflusses von Cabify und des Potenzials, weiterhin langfristige Werte für unsere Investoren und die Städte, in denen wir tätig sind, zu schaffen“, so Cabify-CEO Juan de Antonio in einer Erklärung.

„Cabify“, dessen Geschäftsvolumen im Jahr 2022 gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 32 % gestiegen ist, sagte, dass die Kapitalspritze dazu beitragen wird, seinen Marktanteil in mehr als 25 Städten in Lateinamerika und Spanien mit mehr als 200.000 Einwohnern zu erhöhen. Das Unternehmen, das in mehr als 40 Städten in Argentinien, Chile, Kolumbien, Mexiko, Peru, Uruguay und Spanien tätig ist, erklärte im November, dass es bis 2024 mehr als 300 Millionen US-Dollar investieren werde, um seine Präsenz in Lateinamerika zu stärken.

Mit über 42 Millionen registrierten Nutzern und 1,2 Millionen Fahrern beschäftigt „Cabify“ über 1.000 Mitarbeiter in Spanien und Lateinamerika.

https://latina-press.com/news/...ndiert-in-lateinamerika-und-spanien/  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-04-28/...ial-profile-video