Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket
What inspired the Rakuten Hand?
Tsukamoto: We planned the Rakuten Hand as a follow-up to the Rakuten Mini. We wanted to sell a device that fit the size gap between the Rakuten Mini and the Rakuten BIG. The Rakuten Hand uses a 5.1-inch OLED display that is just 63mm across. We came up with all sorts of mockups to check the fit in the hand, how light it felt and all sorts of trial and error to eventually come up with this width.
Tsukamoto: One feature of the Rakuten Hand’s design is the curved sides. We all conducted tests and went through endless discussions trying to decide whether to make the edges round or instead go for a flatter design with sharper edges. We also decided on plastic for the back of the phone. Using glass makes the phone more beautiful and gives it a premium feel, but it also makes the whole unit heavier, in addition to affecting the price, so we settled on plastic in the end.
Ito: The main camera features a 48-megapixel wide angle camera, with a second depth-sensing camera to allow for background bokeh on photos. 48-megapixel cameras are more often found on high-end smartphones — it’s uncommon to find a device at this price point that features one. We fine-tuned the camera to work well for night shots and a wide range of photographic scenarios.
Tsukamoto: Of course, just like the Rakuten BIG, the Rakuten Hand features 4×4 MIMO*, meaning the internet will feel just as fast and responsive.
Yajima: Before we released these to customers, we had employees from around the company test the phones, separately from our regular tests. They gave us feedback from a customer’s perspective that allowed us to design a more user-friendly UI.
You can also save by purchasing the Rakuten Hand bundled with accessories.
https://rakuten.today/blog/rakuten-mini-rakuten-hand-part-1.html
Rakuten celebrates tenth birthday in France
7 hours ago
We are the child of a happy marriage of French and Japanese business excellence. Our French founders launched PriceMinister.com and grew it into the flagship of French e-commerce. From the start, we partnered with local brands and promoted French culture, focusing on products such as books, video games and CDs.
In 2010, we became part of Japan’s e-commerce leader, Rakuten – beginning our next great phase. Japan and France share much in common. Both societies take great pride in quality and craftsmanship. They love fine food and fashion. They value authenticity and tradition – while embracing and improving modern technology.
As Rakuten-PriceMinister expanded, we moved into the former department store “Au Reaumur” in central Paris in May 2014. From an online site which connected buyers and sellers of cultural products, we’ve grown in France to employ 450 people and offer Rakuten Kobo e-books, Rakuten Viber messaging, and Rakuten TV video on demand. Our original e-commerce “shopping mall” now hosts more than 8,000 retailers from all categories (high-tech, home, clothing and more) and receives 17 million monthly visitors.
Today, France has become Rakuten’s third largest market presence, after our home country of Japan and the United States, and our largest in Western Europe. France’s e-commerce market is robust, marked by dynamic competition and gigantic potential. In 2019, more than 40 million French bought EUR 100 billion worth of goods online from more than 200,000 vendors, up 14% from the year before. This growth was accelerating even before the pandemic hit.
The response has been overwhelming and positive: Since March, the number of applications for merchant accounts are up more than 40% year-on-year.
We believe that brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce can thrive together. Our click and collect solution allows consumers to purchase items online and pick them up an hour later in-store. Rakuten is a unique marketplace in France to offer this alternative to delivery: The solution drives in-store traffic, essential for our merchants, and essential to maintaining our vibrant city centers.
Since its launch in 2018 with 140 Boulanger stores, more than 5,000 stores have adopted this innovative formula. Some 72% of click and collect customers make an additional purchase in stores. Click and collect accounts now for 30% of Rakuten France’s revenues and this share keeps growing. This initiative was particularly highlighted during our second lockdown. Thanks to this option, we were able to allow merchants to introduce their stores to a new audience and maintain contact with regular customers.
https://rakuten.today/blog/rakuten-france-tenth-birthday.html
Ben Schoon
Dec. 8th 2020 8:57 am PT
The new Google Pay comes with some pros and cons, but one big benefit is the addition of rewards. The automatic rewards are great, but at launch, some users were wary of how they worked. Now, we know that Google Pay rewards are powered by Rakuten.
Odds are you’ve heard of Rakuten at some point, and you might even have the company’s popular Cash Back extension installed on your browser. It’s a handy and free way to get a few bucks back on your purchases.
All you have to do to get rewards on Google Pay is link your card to the app, then “claim” those rewards before purchasing at specific retailers (both online and in-store). After the purchase has been completed and the charge shows on your card, Google Pay gives you the credit back.
https://9to5google.com/2020/12/08/google-pay-rakuten-rewards/
09.12.2020
Die Allianz stockt ihr Investment beim Insurtech Simplesurance auf. In Summe fließen weitere 15 Millionen Euro per Wandeldarlehen in das Berliner Unternehmen.
Seit 2012 ist Simplesurance auf dem Markt. Während das Insurtech am Anfang auf Produktversicherungen spezialisiert war, ist inzwischen eine digitale Plattform für Versicherungen hinzu gekommen. Eine von den Jungunternehmern entwickelte Software erlaube es, beim Kauf eines Artikels im Internet, etwa einem Fahrrad oder Fernseher, gleichzeitig eine passende Versicherung hierzu abzuschließen. Die Technik kommt laut Unternehmens-Angaben bereits auf Webseiten wie Real, Huawei oder Weltbild.de zum Einsatz und ist europaweit in mehr als 2.500 Online-Shops vertreten. Im Endkundengeschäft tritt das Unternehmen unter dem Namen Schutzklick.de auf. Überdies bietet das Unternehmen Softwarelösungen für verschiedene Marktsegmente wie E-Commerce, OEM, Travel sowie Banking & Fintechs an.
https://www.versicherungsbote.de/id/4900204/...Euro-in-Simplesurance/
December 9, 2020
The new Google Pay app was released last month, bringing a bunch of new features with it. Among the perks of the revamped app are new dynamic rewards that give cash back and other offers on in-store and online purchases. And now we know how Google is able to award these benefits without requiring users to scan a code or use a coupon: it’s thanks to a new partnership with Rakuten.
Rakuten (formerly called Ebates) is an online service that gives people cash back for purchasing certain items. It works by linking your payment card to the platform, automatically rewarding you when you use the card to place an order. Google partnered with Rakuten to incorporate a similar system into the new Google Pay.
https://flizzyy.com/...the-new-google-pays-surprisingly-good-rewards/
Rakuten’s 5G users at Rakuten consume more than 11 GB per Day
Consumption of data by 4G and 5G customers is huge, states Tareq Amin, the CTO of upstart alternative Japanese operator Rakuten Mobile
” If you take a look at our 5G network, the usage is going crazy– about 11.5 Gbytes each day,” he confirms during a media briefing this week.
That’s a huge amount of data– its about 350 Gbytes monthly.
Currently Rakuten’s 4G users are consuming 15 Gbytes each month, with an average mobile data consumption in Japan at about 5 Gbytes per month.
https://www.5gworldpro.com/blog/2020/11/15/...ore-than-11-gb-per-day/
Significant cost reduction results in lower prices for customers (Simple and Low-Cost Base Station and Full Virtualization = Reduction in CAPEX and OPEX).
Rakuten Receives First-Ever Selection to CDP A List for Climate Change
- Earned highest possible rating in international corporate survey on climate change.
Tokyo, December 9, 2020 - Rakuten, Inc. today announced that it has been selected by the international nonprofit organization CDP for its Climate Change A List for the first time. This is the NPO’s highest possible rating, earned through an annual corporate survey conducted by CDP.
CDP is a global non-profit that drives companies and governments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Voted number one climate research provider by investors and working with institutional investors with assets of US$106 trillion, we leverage investor and buyer power to motivate companies to disclose and manage their environmental impacts.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2020/1209_01.html
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/innovation/rnn/2020/2008_005/
And it is ver important to watch the video!!!
Rakuten Communications Platform we will be that one throat to choke
„One thing we hear is
... (automatisch gekürzt) ...
https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/...-choke-rebuttals/2020/11/
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Gearoid Reidy and Ayaka Maki
Fri, December 11, 2020
Rakuten Inc., the Japanese e-commerce giant that is building out its mobile phone network in Japan to challenge the long-term incumbents, has embraced O-RAN for its 4G and 5G networks. Founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani told a conference in November that he aims to export its network technology overseas and sees its value “easily exceeding 1 trillion yen.”
“Pursuing this open model which increases competition and seeing how much we can gain is a big challenge for us,” said Takahito Tokita, Fujitsu’s CEO. Earlier this year, Fujitsu sealed a deal to sell 5G technology to Dish Network Corp. which is building out its own network having acquired the Boost wireless business from T-Mobile US Inc.
“This is a multitrillion-dollar market,” he told Bloomberg News. “Even a small percentage of that is a big chance for us,” he said, adding that Fujitsu is still no more than a “newborn chick” compared to the likes of Nokia.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...japan-002104099.html?.tsrc=fin-srch
MIDLAND, Texas, Dec. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AST & Science LLC ("AST SpaceMobile") today announced that it has selected NEC Platforms, Ltd., a subsidiary of NEC Corporation (TSE: NEC) and a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies, to manufacture essential AST SpaceMobile satellite modules. NEC Platforms, based in Japan, will mass produce these modules, which are the cornerstone of AST SpaceMobile's patented technology for its high-powered low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites.
AST SpaceMobile has developed the first satellite technology which connects directly to off-the-shelf smartphones at broadband speeds without any need for specialized satellite hardware. The AST SpaceMobile network will enable seamless roaming to and from terrestrial cellular networks, filling mobile coverage gaps around the world.
AST SpaceMobile already has extensive relationships in Japan, including with Rakuten Mobile, a lead investor and a global strategic partner. "For Rakuten Mobile, AST SpaceMobile's unique technology represents a competitive and efficient path to connecting customers across Japan, and to bolstering mobile service in times of natural disaster or emergency," said Yoshihisa Yamada, Representative Director and President of Rakuten Mobile, Inc. "As a lead investor in AST SpaceMobile, we are very excited about this new partnership with NEC Platforms and its potential to contribute to bringing high-quality space-based mobile broadband to customers."
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/...modules-1029885244
With the evolution of the internet and social media, millions of users amid a storm of hype and have started utilizing different applications. Nowadays, millions of people use mobile apps for efficient and swift communication. Viber Messenger is one of those apps that is used for messaging and calls and is still severely underrated.
It was introduced to the world in 2010 and is still highly relevant in the era of today. Even now, it offers certain features that aren’t available in most high-end communication applications. Here are eight features you probably didn’t know you could use on Viber:
https://artdaily.com/news/129953/...Might-Not-Know-About#.X9Oxweag8dU
Your data may be at risk, but with apps like Viber, you can stay protected
People have also turned to the social media to join groups or communities that align with their hobbies and interests. Online marketplaces have also become more active, with people trying to make ends meet in a time of such economic uncertainty. But what people don't always realize is that some of these public groups expose their profiles to strangers they don't necessarily trust. Other messaging apps can scan users' personal and private chats, and use the data for targeting and advertising. Some apps can also access messages and data to give to law enforcement agencies for tracking.
So this leaves us with the question: What app can you really trust with your privacy in the era of social distancing? Rakuten Viber , one of the top messaging apps in the world, gives you several ways to prioritize your security online. This is keeping in line with its commitment to protecting the data of its users. 'Unlike other apps, which mine user data to improve their marketing campaigns or to sell to other companies, the personal messages sent via Viber are by default encrypted, which means it is virtually impossible for anyone from Viber to view users' chat. On Viber, you can be sure that every personal message you send can only be read on the device you send it to.' says Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua .
Since Viber is by default encrypted, you don't need to worry about your data getting leaked or sold. 'At Rakuten Viber, we're proud to say that we put customer privacy first. We will never sell your data. In fact, we can't even see it in the first place.' says Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua .
https://menafn.com/1100348677/...ps-like-Viber-you-can-stay-protected
12 December 2020
As technologies continue to take a bigger part of our lives, data privacy and security of communication becomes increasingly important. Viber employees are committed to continue working hard for this critical mission. For most of you, they are anonymous. But trust me when I say they are the best team one can ask for,” said Rakuten Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua. In addition, Viber is well on its way toward becoming an all-encompassing communication platform expanding into utilities and fintech, while never relenting on its commitment to protect user privacy.
Over the years Viber has seen accelerated growth in Sri Lanka with continued records in usage. Compared to 2019, during the first half of 2020, a 39 percent increase in daily activations and a 34 percent rise in sending group messages, with a growth of 91 percent in the number of messages sent in a group has been witnessed. Moreover, one to one messages increased by 37 percent and community views surged by 118 percent. To offer Sri Lankan users enhanced services, Viber has over the years begun investing in localising the app and partnering with key local organisations. Among the significant milestones include partnering with People’s Bank, one of the largest state banks, Health Promotion Bureau, Government Information Department and President’s Media Division for verified information, collaborating with the World Health Organisation, Sri Lanka delegation, partnering Cargills FoodCity, the biggest supermarket chain and also working with the National Lottery Sri Lanka.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/...ns-in-Sri-Lanka/273-201694
MIAMI - March 6, 2018 – AST & Science today announced that it has closed on the purchase of a controlling interest in the European satellite manufacturer and system integrator NanoAvionics.
All the key executives and management team of NanoAvionics will remain unchanged under the leadership of CEO Vytenis Buzas and CCO Linas Sargautis, both founders of the company. Abel Avellan, chairman and CEO of AST & Science, will become chairman of the board of NanoAvionics.
NanoAvionics is a satellite platform manufacturer and mission integrator for satellites weighing less than 50 kg (110.2 lbs). Its flagship multi-purpose M6P is the first preconfigured nano-satellite platform in the sector, designed to serve emerging commercial space markets. The company’s efforts are focused on enabling critical satellite functions and optimizing their launch, hardware and operating costs—ranging from single missions to constellations. Its core engineering team has implemented over 40 successful satellite missions during the past several years.
https://ast-science.com/2018/03/06/nanoavionics-investment/
by Debra Werner — August 5, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO – Revenues for Lithuanian Nanosatellite manufacturer NanoAvionics tripled in the last 12 months as the company signed contracts with startups and industry veterans.
“As the market for nanosatellites and cubesats matures, NanoAvionics is very well placed with its price points and capability,” NanoAvionics US CEO Brent Abbott told SpaceNews.
https://spacenews.com/nanoavionics-revenue-triples/
Texas-based AST & Science says the investment brings the total capital raised by the company to $128 million. Other investors include American Tower and Samsung Next, the Korean company’s investment arm.
AST & Science will operate under the brand SpaceMobile, with low-orbit satellites that the company says will connect directly to smartphones.
Abel Avellan, AST & Science chairman and CEO, said: “SpaceMobile will be particularly transformative to the growing US$1 trillion annual global mobile market because it will eliminate the coverage gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers moving in and out of connectivity every day.”
https://www.capacitymedia.com/articles/3825056/...e-satellite-venture
Virtualized open RAN technology allows Rakuten to cut roughly 40% out of its capital expenses and 30% out of its operating expenses
The current situation in the East traces its origins to Rakuten, an ecommerce startup (think Japan's Amazon) that, in 2018, decided to enter the country's mobile market. To do so, the company embraced cutting-edge, virtualized and open radio access network (RAN) technology that leverages data center designs supporting cheap hardware powered by very complex software. Virtualized open RAN technology allows Rakuten to cut roughly 40% out of its capital expenses and 30% out of its operating expenses, the operator said, allowing it to charge just $30 a month for its 5G service – about 70% less than its rivals.
That rock-bottom offer appears to have pushed at least one of Rakuten's rivals to respond. NTT Docomo this week announced it will sell 20GB of 5G data for around $29 per month, around half of what its fellow incumbents SoftBank and KDDI charge. The move follows calls by the country's prime minister for operators to lower their fees amid a pandemic that has forced just about everyone inside and online.
"It is an aggressive plan which will require the other incumbents to respond, and therefore likely lead to a period of negative consumer mobile communication revenue growth," financial analysts at New Street Research wrote in a note to investors this week of Docomo's price cut.
https://www.lightreading.com/cloud-nativenfv/...verizon/a/d-id/765880
And it's not just the RAN. In the core network, Mavenir is now one of the top five suppliers, according to Dell'Oro.
The other decisive factor at play has been China itself and its relish for diplomatic brawling, most notably with India.
Since the June border clash in which several dozen died, India has banned more than 100 Chinese apps. After years of sitting on the fence, it has also decided to exclude Huawei from its 5G rollouts.
That is quite a significant swing vote.
India is nowhere near as big a market as China. Total capex will likely be around $15 billion this year, less than a third of China's.
But it has enough scale and upside to entice global firms, especially given that its financially stretched operators desperately need someone to deliver Huawei levels of affordability.
In another important step, Japan and India are about to sign an MoU for tech collaboration, the first of its kind between the two governments. Japan will contribute its 5G and fiber expertise, while India will offer its digital IT smarts.
These government agreements might be a long way short of the nitty-gritty of funding, partnering and building out networks, but they carry weight and also point to a changing network supply business with new players.
Already Rakuten has opened a research center in Bengaluru while HAPSMobile, SoftBank's high-altitude network project, is seeking Indian partners, according to Nikkei Asia.
Suddenly, the vendor business looks a whole lot different.
https://www.lightreading.com/asia/...oks-very-different/d/d-id/765772
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/...n-cross-border-e-commerce-market
Rakuten In Store Network's and Google Pay's relationship provides card-connected offers via the iOS and Android Google Pay mobile programs. It lets shoppers earn cash back at merchants such as Adidas, Gap and H&M.
Membership programs such as Rakuten.com, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines already harness Rakuten's card-connected offers to let shoppers receive rewards for eCommerce or brick-and-mortar shopping.
According to the announcement, a Rakuten study discovered that retailers providing cash back with Rakuten In Store Network had an average 100 percent lift in orders and purchasers in contrast to a control shopper group that was not offered rewards for their shopper activity.
"As contactless payments become the norm, consumer adoption of mobile wallets is growing at a tremendous rate. Delivering merchant offers directly to their phones will be an increasingly important tool for incentivizing consumers to fill their shopping carts,” Erin Warren, general manager at Rakuten In Store Network, said in the announcement.
https://www.pymnts.com/digital-onboarding/2020/...onsumer-experience/