Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

- und daher habe ich mir nach dem Einstieg bei Alibaba, die inzwischem mehr als 20% gut gemacht haben, auch einige Rakutens gekauft.

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/  

Rakuten Survey Reveals AI Awareness Gap and Growth Potential for Japanese SMEs

Only 1 in 6 Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises use AI

40% of non-users are unaware of AI benefits, highlighting the need for education and tailored solutions

Tokyo, January 29, 2025

The survey highlights a clear opportunity for AI service providers to bridge the knowledge gap and address the unique needs of SMEs in Japan. By offering cost-effective, easy-to-implement solutions and demonstrating tangible ROI, AI adoption can be accelerated across industries. Additionally, expanding AI applications beyond operational tasks to include marketing and customer engagement will enable SMEs to achieve business-centric outcomes and strengthen their competitive edge.
Rakuten is dedicated to empowering SMEs in Japan by delivering innovative AI solutions and cutting-edge technologies to improve operations, strengthen connections with customers and drive sustainable growth.

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/0129_01.html
 

Rakuten Mobile launches "Rakuten AI for Business" generative AI service for corporate clients

Via Rakuten Mobile
Jan 29, 2025

Tokyo - Rakuten Mobile, Inc. today announced the launch of the "Rakuten AI for Business" generative AI service to support a wide range of business activities for corporate clients. Featuring superior language comprehension and task processing capabilities, the AI service quickly displays the most suitable responses to user requests and supports business tasks such as document creation, translation, brainstorming, analysis and research via a chat interface.

Rakuten AI for Business is optimized for Japanese culture, regulations and business customs, leveraging the Rakuten Group's experience and expertise in sales, operations and marketing to empower businesses.

Customers can immediately use the service in-browser and there are no system setup requirements for individual companies. This makes Rakuten AI for Business an easy and cost-effective generative AI service to deploy. The service is available at a monthly rate of 1,100 yen (tax included) per license.

https://www.telecomtv.com/content/...ice-for-corporate-clients-52212/
 

Rakuten and Ampere expand collaboration

Rakuten recently announced plans to expand its collaboration with Ampere to further reduce power consumption and improve data center efficiency. This makes Rakuten the first company in Japan to deploy Ampere-based products on a large scale.

Since 2023, the companies have collaborated to achieve a 36% energy saving per rack and 11% space reduction per rack for Rakuten Cloud?s services. Recent trials of load balancing services on the Ampere-based platforms also showed a 22% reduction in power consumption.

The growing partnership emphasizes Rakuten?s dedication to further enhance energy efficiency and support its growing AI-driven services and initiatives.

https://rakuten.today/blog/empowering-data-centers-of-the-future.html
 

Rakuten Group 2025 New Year Kickoff: A Day in Review!

January 29, 2025

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/innovation/rnn/2025/2501_001/
 

Rakuten wird voraussichtlich am 14.02.2025 das Zahlenwerk zum am 31.12.2024 ausgelaufenen Quartal vorlegen.

Die Prognose von 1 Analyst für das im vergangenen Jahresviertel erwirtschaftete EPS beläuft sich auf 0,049 USD je Aktie gegenüber -0,410 USD je Aktie im Vorjahresquartal.

Die Prognosen von 10 Analysten für das abgelaufene Fiskaljahr belaufen sich auf einen durchschnittlichen Verlust je Aktie von -0,391 USD, gegenüber -1,260 USD je Aktie im entsprechenden Zeitraum zuvor.

https://www.finanzen.net/nachricht/aktien/...aufenen-quartal-14191724
 

EPS increased 0,869 USD in 2024 from -1,260 USD in 2023 to -0,391 USD in 2024. If similar will happen in 2025, the EPS in 2025 will be positive 0,478 USD/share.

 

Rakuten Viki Celebrates K-Drama Fandom Across the Globe

January 30, 2025

Starting with Korean dramas (K-dramas), Rakuten Viki has solidified its position as the world's top streaming service for Asian content with over 95 million registered users globally, and the excitement levels peaked in late 2024 with the launch of its second annual International K-Drama Day. This video looks at Viki?s approach to content, while highlighting the key events and insights from K-Drama Day 2024, showcasing Rakuten Viki's commitment to bringing exclusive and diverse Asian entertainment to fans worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cNHpT4LDTY

 

No longer plans to list its securities arm

Rakuten Group said it no longer plans to list its securities arm on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and will instead focus on deepening its partnership with Mizuho Securities.

The Japanese e-commerce pioneer had planned an initial public offering for Rakuten Securities Holdings, part of a push to shore up finances depleted by a foray into Japan?s hyper-competitive wireless carrier market. In late 2023, it temporarily withdrew that application, stating that it would reapply for a listing at a later date.

But in November, Rakuten reported its first quarterly operating profit since 2020 after losses in its mobile segment shrank. That segment is now profitable, discounting marketing costs to win new customers, Rakuten founder Hiroshi Mikitani told Bloomberg TV in a recent interview.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/01/30/...rities-ipo-nixed/
 

AST SpaceMobile Announces FCC Grant Of Special Temporary Authority (STA) In the United States with Strategic Partners AT&T And Verizon

January 31, 2025

AST SpaceMobile, 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 that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted the company Special Temporary Authority (STA) authorizing testing service in the United States. This approval enables AST SpaceMobile?s first five commercial BlueBird satellites, operating in low Earth orbit today, with unmodified smartphones in AT&T and Verizon premium low-band wireless spectrum supporting voice, full data, and video applications, and other native cellular broadband capabilities, without the need of any specialized software or device support or updates.

During 2024, AST SpaceMobile secured additional strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, and new contract awards with the United States Government, directly and through prime contractors. The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have over approximately 2.8 billion existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, Cisneros Group and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...-announces-fcc-grant-042500543.html
 

1822 Denim saw immediate success through the affiliate channel by utilizing JEBCommerce?s new Accelerator program and Rakuten Advertising?s full-funnel global network and advanced technology. The revamped affiliate program drove impressive results within the first 90 days since the program launched:

+134% increase in revenue

+79% improvement in conversion rate

+151% increase in orders

https://rakutenadvertising.com/resources/...y-1822-denim-jebcommerce/
 

A path toward industrialized interoperability

January 23, 2025

One of Rakuten?s most ambitious achievements was establishing a scaled Open RAN network integrating over 340,000 4G and 5G products across various hardware and software providers, spanning macro cells and small cells, virtualized RAN (vRAN) software, femtocell technology, 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum, 5G sub-6 GHz spectrum and more. In doing this, we eliminated vendor lock-in and drove seamless interaction between components from the manufacturers that support our business.

This has allowed us to more efficiently scale the Rakuten Mobile network, which now serves more than 8 million subscribers with market parity or better performance and radically lower cost structures, while offering real-world proof of what is possible with the right vision, commitment and investment. This milestone validates that industrialized interoperability is not just a theoretical goal but a practical, scalable approach capable of delivering real-world results in subscriber growth and network performance.

Our ambitions extend beyond telecom.

Rakuten?s goal is to create opportunities across industries by continuing to replicate the model of driving industrialized partnerships with vendors, system integrators and other stakeholders until interoperability is the norm, not the exception.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...roperability-rakuten-symphony-zsrae
 

Rakuten Bank, Ltd. (5838.T) Interactive Stock Chart - Yahoo Finance

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/5838.T/chart/...vc2l0aW9uIjpmYWxzZX19
 

January 29, 2025

He claimed its AI offering is easy to implement, has no upfront or setup costs and offers clients training and support via a consulting team. It gives companies a free one-month trial, with a monthly fee of JPY1,000 ($6.45) for 100,000 characters, and JPY10 for each additional 1,000 characters.

The operator will target the new service at its existing base of 18,000 enterprise clients as well as the group?s 630,000 corporate customers.

Rakuten Group partnered with OpenAI in 2023. Rakuten Mobile launched its AI chat assistant for consumers in December 2024.

Chair Mickey Mikitani last week told Bloomberg it is not competing against OpenAI or Google but is building a more vertically integrated, specialised AI model.

https://www.mobileworldlive.com/rakuten/...h-specialised-ai-offering/
 

Rakuten Mobile turns to its RIC for energy-efficiency gains

27 November 2024

The data-hungry user base of Japan?s newest mobile operator continues to grow.

One of Rakuten Mobile?s current areas of focus is greater energy efficiency.

It is putting its RAN intelligent controller (RIC) to work next year as part of a broader campaign to reduce power consumption by up to 20%.

Sriwastawa noted that the ?focus for this quarter and the coming year? is to achieve ?anything between 15% to 20% saving on overall power consumption? by mobile base stations and its portfolio of datacentre facilities: Rakuten Mobile currently has four central datacentres, 43 regional datacentres, and 1,906 edge datacentres (with more than 38,000 servers in operation) and over 64,000 macro cell sites.

https://uktin.net/whats-happening/news/...gs%2520of%2520between%25201
 

         ?§Consolidated revenue of JPY 566.7 billion, up 9.3% year-over-year.
         ?§Rakuten Mobile contributes 40% to growth, reaching 8.12 million subscribers.
         ?§Non-GAAP operating income shows a profit of JPY 12.3 billion.
         ?§Shopping and travel segments revenue up by 4.4% to JPY 314.6 billion.
         ?§Fintech segment revenue at JPY 208.2 billion, a 12.8% increase; operating income up 57.2% to JPY 40 billion.
         ?§Strategic alliance with Mizuho Financial Group to enhance acquiring performance.
         ?§Rakuten Symphony secured contracts with 45 customers in 2023, targeting over 100 in 2024.
         ?§AI strategy ("AIization") to infuse AI across operations, enhancing customer experiences.

Company Outlook
         ?§Rakuten anticipates strong profitability in Q4, supported by strategic alliances and customer base expansion.
         ?§The company aims for 100% network coverage by March 2026 for Rakuten Mobile.
         ?§Plans to integrate AI to enhance services and increase customer satisfaction.

Bearish Highlights
         ?§The company is focused on improving operating income and reducing debt to maintain financial health.

Bullish Highlights
         ?§Rakuten Mobile achieved its first quarterly profit with significant subscriber growth.
         ?§The fintech segment shows robust revenue and operating income increases.
         ?§Rakuten Card's GTV reached JPY 6 trillion, up 12.7% year-over-year.
         ?§Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities both reported significant growth in accounts and general account value.

https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/...ent-shines-93CH-3727259
 

Rakuten Group is making significant strides in the telecommunications sector, with Rakuten Mobile's subscriber base reaching 8.12 million lines, marking a crucial profitability milestone. The company is leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences and reduce costs, while strategic partnerships, such as with Mizuho Financial Group, aim to strengthen its fintech offerings. This report will explore Rakuten's financial performance, challenges in customer acquisition, and opportunities for growth and innovation.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...-group-tse-4755-eyes-011505585.html
 

Rakuten's financial health is underscored by its first quarterly profit from Rakuten Mobile's capital investment, reporting a non-GAAP operating income of ¥12.3 billion and an IFRS operating income of ¥538 million. This profitability milestone highlights the effectiveness of its ecosystem strategy, which significantly engages mobile subscribers with other Rakuten services. Additionally, the company is forecasted to become profitable over the next three years, with earnings anticipated to grow by 81.95% annually, indicating strong future financial prospects. The valuation summary suggests that Rakuten is trading below its estimated fair value, which may reflect its strong market positioning.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...-group-tse-4755-eyes-011505585.html

 

After five years Rakuten is achieving its goals, becoming profitable in Q4 of last year. Rakuten brought down mobile phones bills by an average of 2,000 JPY monthly and we saved Japanese households a combined four trillion JPY annually. The network delivers quality and performance at parity or better than traditional network approaches.

https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...realities-to-guide-2025-planning
 

The vision for what is possible can be clear as day. The path to achieve it is never quite as obvious.
When Rakuten Mobile launched the world?s first fully cloud-native, software-based mobile network service in a developed, highly competitive market in Japan, and a plan for upending traditional telecom economics, few outside the company saw the opportunity.

Five years later since the mobile service went live, Rakuten Group has just reported its first operating profit, buoyed by 30% year-on-year revenue growth from Rakuten Mobile.

Rakuten Mobile subscribers are also actively contributing to the growth of the Rakuten Ecosystem. Mobile subscribers drive an almost additional 50% gross transaction volume on Japan?s leading online marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, 27% on Rakuten Card, Japan?s most popular credit card, and 14% on Japan?s top online travel portal, Rakuten Travel, compared to non-subscribers. This performance and a subscriber base that has just passed eight million members are the ultimate validation of a business vision once thought impossible.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/...e-looks-like-rakuten-symphony-h0omf
 

with revenues of $ 92.3 million and a net profit of $ 8.58 million.

Which legal entities is InnoEye associated with?
InnoEye is associated with 1 legal entity given below:
Legal Entity Name Date of incorporation Revenue Net Profit
RAKUTEN SYMPHONY INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
Jul 31, 2012 $92.3M (as on Mar 31, 2024) $8.58M (as on Mar 31, 2024)

https://tracxn.com/d/companies/innoeye/...of4Naz6h8#about-the-company
 

The market currently values Rakuten at a consensus next twelve months' Enterprise Value-to-Sales or EV/S multiple of below 1 or 0.82 times to be exact as per S&P Capital IQ data. In contrast, the stock's historical 10-year and 15-year mean consensus EV/S ratios were 1.41 times and 1.71 times, respectively. I am of the view that the achievement of positive operating income for full-year FY 2025 will be a catalyst that allows Rakuten to trade closer at an EV/S multiple closer to the historical average.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/...ty-inflection-point-reiterate-buy

 

Rakuten Advertising Partners with Marcode to Protect Against Affiliate Fraudsters

February 3, 2025

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ners-marcode-protect-134800776.html
 

Rakuten SixthSense eyes global expansion, targets new markets in Asia and the Middle East

November 21, 2024 Bengaluru

Rakuten SixthSense plans to expand its presence into the Middle East and European markets ? two regions experiencing rapid digital adoption

Rakuten SixthSense, the B2B technology arm of the Japanese Rakuten Group, said it is exploring newer markets globally, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Middle East, next year.
Launched in 2021, Rakuten SixthSense?s largest markets are India and North America. It plans to expand its presence into the Middle East and European markets ? two regions experiencing rapid digital adoption.

Rakuten SixthSense?s clients include national government agencies, leading airlines, financial institutions, global retail chains, and other technology giants.

?Close to 10 per cent of the company?s revenue will come from products like Rakuten SixthSense. Over the next three to four years, Rakuten is aiming for an even split, where 50-60 per cent of the revenue will come from services, and 30-40 per cent from product and product-based sales. That?s the vision,? he said.

Alongside, Rakuten SixthSense announced the launch of two solutions: Data Observability and API Security Observability. By expanding its suite, Rakuten SixthSense is set to deepen its market reach, focusing on sectors such as finance, healthcare, retail, and government, and broadening its footprint in the small and medium-sized business (SMB) segment.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/...article68893064.ece
 

Optimistic about the long-term benefits of Open RAN

There are plenty of reasons for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and players in the wider RAN ecosystem to be optimistic about the long-term benefits of Open RAN. While some analysis of the market has fueled skepticism, the reality is that contracts continue to be signed and MNOs? Open RAN strategies present opportunities for extending 5G coverage, optimizing network performance, reducing costs and enhancing the security of networks. Coupled with that promise is the exciting proposition of exploring Open RAN?s potential in a neutral host network architecture.

MNOs are at varying stages of maturity when it comes to Open RAN deployments, for the most part they have deployed Open RAN technologies in lower traffic rural environments. This trend is more due to a matter of building confidence rather than any inherent limitation of Open RAN. However, that is now changing with deployment in High Density Demand environments.

https://www.thefastmode.com/technology-solutions/...tions-of-open-ran
 

Taiwan Rakuten Card Launches First Rakuten Panda Card

February  04, 2025

Taiwan Rakuten Card has launched its first card featuring Rakuten (Okaimono) Panda, the "Rakuten Panda J Card." In addition to up to 3% cashback on purchases in Taiwan, the card also offers up to 5% cashback on purchases in Japan, Korea, and Thailand, popular travel destinations for many Taiwanese. Taiwan Rakuten Card CEO Eiji Ishii spoke to press at the venue after the ceremonial card signing and celebratory opening ceremony featuring the Rakuten Monkeys cheerleading team, the Rakuten Girls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpgWZRl-zDc&t=7s