Libuda
: Rakuten Mobile Post Office Stores Expand User Base
Rakuten Mobile Post Office Stores Aim to Expand User Base
AUGUST 18, 2021
For a limited time from June to August 2021, Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with the Japan Post Group, has opened “Rakuten Mobile Post Office Stores” inside selected post offices in Japan. Rakuten Mobile aims to expand these collaboration efforts and leverage Japan Post’s 20,000-plus post offices nationwide to reach customers in less populated areas where it doesn’t have stores. Here, we introduce the initiative along with comments from representatives of both companies.
Libuda
: Viber ist eine der angeführten Alternativen
14. August 2021 Seit der Übernahme durch Facebook steht WhatsApp in der Kritik. Für deutsche Nutzer hat sich bisher zwar noch nichts geändert, Facebook dürfte allerdings nach wie vor größtes Interesse an den Adressbüchern der WhatsApp-Kunden haben. Wir nennen die besten Alternativen zu WhatsApp.
The company has two strong, well-established businesses (Internet and fintech) that are already part of the group, and in more recent years the company has expanded its offering to a mobile network, costing the group between ¥1.5 trillion and ¥2.0 trillion, the equivalent of its market cap today. Investors fled at the thought of deteriorating margins and huge capex spend over the ensuing 5 years.
This has been the narrative for the past few years, however, as Warren Buffett once said, "Widespread fear is your friend as an investor because it serves up bargain purchases." We are of the opinion that the storm is coming to an end and if you are a long-term investor, there is an opportunity to get exposure to an excellent business at a bargain price.
Libuda
: Become the No. 1 mobile operator in Japan
Mikitani’s mobile network goals in Japan are just as grandiose. “We’re envisioning to become the No. 1 mobile operator in Japan,” he said, adding that lower costs and speedier development underpin that ambition.
“The population coverage of the Rakuten Mobile 4G network exceeded 90% as of June. Due to the shortage of semiconductors amid the pandemic, the 96% population coverage target, which we initially aimed to achieve this summer, is now expected to be achieved within this year,” Rakuten Mobile President Yoshihisa Yamada said.
All of the base station sites required to reach that goal are under contract, he added. The company expects losses to continue through 2021 and level off a bit in 2022 before reaching profitability in 2023.
Libuda
: Over 60% of Rakuten versus 26.7% of Softbank
In contrast to mobile, Rakuten’s fintech segment delivered an operating profit of 22.5 billion yen, an increase of 6.0% versus the previous year. Rakuten Bank last month reached its target of 11 million accounts and the number of issued credit cards surpassed 23 million in June. The securities segment has also reached 6.24 million brokerage accounts.
But Mikitani said mobile remained a significant entry point for new customers into other Rakuten services. Over 60% of its mobile subscribers use Rakuten Ichiba, the company said, compared with 26.7% of SoftBank subscribers who use its Yahoo! Shopping service.
Rakuten Mobile had 4.42 million subscribers as of June, losing some customers who took advantage of the promotional free yearlong subscription but left when it ended in April. The company declined to say how many of those customers stayed on, saying only that “churn is lower than expected.”
“Rakuten Mobile has become one of the most important customer-acquisition venues for the Rakuten ecosystem,” Mikitani said.
“In five to 10 years, it is possible that we will see RCP’s revenue and profit outpace our other businesses,” he added.
Ebook revenues in the United States were up 21.0% in March and the format generated $88.0 million. Digital Audiobooks was up 16.7% for March, coming in at $58.5 million in revenue. In the first three months of the year, digital book sales increased by 20.7% as compared to the first three months of 2020 for a total of $278.2 million. Meanwhile, digital audiobooks was up 21.0%, coming in at $189.4 million in revenue.
Libuda
: Als Ursache für die Kursrückgänge trotz m.E.
guter Fundamentals kann ich eigentlich nur die S&P Global Rating-Einstufung BB+ ausmachen, die ich allerdings nicht nachvollziehen kann. Die großen Aktienmengen, die geworfen wurden, könnten z.B. von Fonds stammen, die laut ihren Anlage-Vorschriften keine Aktien halten dürfen, die nur BB+ als Kreditrating haben.
Und wie Ihr der vorstehenden Adresse entnehmen könnt, sehen das die japanischen Ratingagenturen auch anders. Denn die größten Investitionen im Mobile-Bereich sind gelaufen, die Roaming-Kosten sinken dadurch und auch wenn noch kein Mobile-Gewinne gemacht werden, kann der Cash-Flow schon sehr viel früher positiv sein, da den Gewinn mindernde sehr hohe Abschreibungen für Mobile-Investitionen nicht zu Cash-Abflüssen führen.
Ich will S&P keine gezielte Manipulation vorwerfen, aber die Diskrepanz zu den japanischen Rating-Agenturen und die von mir angeführten Fakten, das hohe Abschreibungen nicht mehr zu Cash-Abflüssen führen, sondern diese schon vorher stattgefunden haben, stechen doch sehr ins Auge.
Libuda
: Cookies-Knock-Out gut für Rakuten Advertising
Marken müssen die Verbraucher in den Fokus ihrer Werbemaßnahmen stellen Aktualisierungen des Datenschutzes und Beschränkungen für Cookies von Drittanbietern sind aus der Sorge der Verbraucher um die Verwendung ihrer Daten entstanden. Zu lange wurden den Verbrauchern Anzeigen ausgespielt, die den Inhalt einer Seite überdecken. Auch wurden sie für bereits gekaufte Produkte per Retargeting erneut angesprochen. Marken müssen diese Wahrnehmung ändern und Teil einer positiven Online-Erfahrung werden. Eine Studie aus dem Jahr 2017 ergab, dass weltweit 65 % der Verbraucher Werbung als wertvoll erachten, sofern sie ihren Interessen entspricht und nahtlos in Online-Inhalte integriert ist.
Verwendung von Erstanbieterdaten eines Publishers Marketer beginnen, für eine Zukunft ohne Cookies zu planen. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden die Daten aus erster Hand, die Publisher über ihre Zielgruppen haben, immer wertvoller. Damit werden Publisher in die Lage versetzt, zukünftige Lösungen für die gezielte Gestaltung und Personalisierung von Werbeerlebnissen zu schaffen. Ad-Tech-Unternehmen entwickeln neue Tools, die Marken auf der Grundlage der Zustimmung der Publisher einen leichteren Zugang zu Verbraucherdaten ermöglichen, indem sie Daten aus erster Hand aggregieren und verbreiten. Bei Rakuten Advertising stellen wir fest, dass unser Publisher-Netzwerk sehr offen für die Zusammenarbeit und die gemeinsame Nutzung ihrer Daten ist – solange es denn einen gegenseitigen Nutzen gibt. Jetzt müssen Marken den Aufbau stärkerer, kooperativer Beziehungen mit Publishern priorisieren, um die Ziele, die sie in allen Phasen der Kauferfahrung erreichen wollen, besser zu nutzen und zu optimieren.
Kontext vs. Daten Die kontextbezogene Werbung ist seit langem eine erprobte Marketingstrategie. Und da die Verbraucher Anzeigen wünschen, die ihren Interessen entsprechen und in ihre Online-Inhalte integriert sind, ist dies eine der wertvollsten Strategien, die Marketern zur Verfügung stehen. Datenschutzgesetze und Browser-Änderungen bedeuten, dass der Nutzen der von Cookies gelieferten Daten abnimmt. Damit wird der Kontext ebenso wichtig, wenn nicht sogar wichtiger. Eine mit Cashback-Anbietern kooperierende Marke kennt zum Beispiel den Kontext, in dem sie erscheint, die demografische Zusammensetzung ihrer Zielgruppe und die Einstellung des Verbrauchers beim Besuch der Website. Die Marke muss nicht unbedingt bestimmte Personen innerhalb der Zielgruppe ansprechen, solange sie kontextuell relevant erscheint. Auf diese Weise kann die Marke ein Werbeerlebnis schaffen, das nicht aufdringlich ist und das Erlebnis des Verbrauchers verbessert.
Libuda
: Pinterest partners with Rakuten Advertising
Pinterest partners with Rakuten Advertising to monetize Idea Pins
By Rakuten Advertising | July 29, 2021
As content creators continue to influence brand and product discovery, Pinterest has partnered with Rakuten Advertising on new ways to monetize the platform.
On July 27th, Pinterest launched shoppable Idea Pins to allow creators to earn commissions through affiliate programs across networks including Rakuten Advertising and ShopStyle Collective. This partnership creates seamless opportunities for brands to reach, engage and convert consumers throughout their entire shopping journey.
“Pinterest has been a valuable partner in the Rakuten Advertising network for years, so we were delighted to collaborate with them to create shoppable, trackable links for their affiliate programs. This new Idea Pins feature will provide new consumer insights, drive even more revenue for Pinterest Creators and bring unique opportunities to the brands in our network.” – Ceres Cueva, Head of Global Publisher Partnerships
While the new feature helps content creators build and grow their audience, it also allows brands to reach consumers early in their shopping experience, when they first seek out inspiration. Our deep-linking capabilities create a smooth conversion experience for shoppers, and track app installs, leads and conversions, so brands can see success across the consumer journey. Brands can also deliver personalized offers to our network of over 150,000 active publishers in real-time through our proprietary API.
Idea Pins product tagging tool is currently available to all business accounts in the U.S. and U.K., and Pinterest will continue rolling out access to international creators over the coming months.
Libuda
: 1&1 extending the world-wide RAN-community to 30
1&1 extending the world-wide community of 30 mobile RAN network operators
Bonn/Germany, August 16, 2021 – The O-RAN ALLIANCE welcomes 1&1 as its newest operator member, extending the world-wide community of 30 mobile network operators committed to deployment of open and intelligent Radio Access Networks (RAN).
This new approach could bolster competition, lower prices and settle the supremacy of software on the telecom market.
Early June, the U.S. Senate approved a measure aimed at boosting the country’s technological strength. Among various expenditures, it includes $1.5 billion in support of 5G innovation, in particular support of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN). This move comes as no surprise, as the Pentagon had already highlighted the strategic importance of open source 5G back in December 2019.
This software supremacy is one of the main reasons why the U.S. is currently betting on this technology. In addition to the measure that was adopted in June, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense, also partnered in February with the LinkedIn Foundation to promote the deployment of open 5G. Already betting on the future, the U.S. and Japan also agreed in April to invest $4.5 billion for the development of 6G and Open RAN.
In the long run, however, the network should emerge stronger. Whereas legacy networks operated as a blackbox at the mercy of one supplier, with no transparency. Open RAN will open up everything, making it easier for incumbents to step in and deploy new, innovative security mechanisms.
Through the lenses: conversations made more engaging
Published August 20, 2021, 7:00 AM by Jules Vivas
Communication online is more significant today, as it goes beyond just the basic transmission of information. Social media and other communication platforms are now instruments for economic growth, for businesses to sell, market, and advertise. In the same way, they have turned into a form of entertainment, a product to maintain the sanity and wellbeing of people. A much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life.
A particular product of interest that is about to launch, at least in the Philippines, is Viber Lenses. Made possible through the partnership of Rakuten Viber and Snap Inc., Snapchat’s augmented reality lenses have been adopted to the cross-platform voice-over IP and instant messaging software application. What does this imply? In essence, Lenses is your usual Viber given the snap-filter flare. Video calls and photos through the app are made more fun with AR.
“It’s an incredible product. It brings joy to anyone who uses it, from little kids, the younger audience, to any type of users,” says Nadav.
Viber Lenses is in beta version. It will launch in the Philippines on Aug 31, Tuesday.
Libuda
: Clients and prospective clients of RakutenSymphony
Rakuten has already won a deal with 1&1 in Germany to deliver and run what will be Germany’s fourth mobile network infrastructure and the first major open RAN network in Europe. (See German operator 1&1 to build brownfield Open RAN network with Rakuten.)
The group claims Symphony is attracting considerable global attention, with four customers and 27 prospective clients in the Americas; three customers and 19 prospects in Europe; and four customers and 22 prospects in Asia-Pacific. It also said it has 12 prospective clients in Middle East & Africa, and five in Russia and the CIS.
Libuda
: Cash Flow-Situation verbessert sich im 2. Halbjahr
Die Ursache für die Rating-Verschlechterung waren wohl die 191.0 billion JPY Investitionen im ersten Halbjahr 2021 und der negative Operating Cash von 168.4 billion JPY – selbst wenn die beschafften Mittel zur Finanzierung sehr viel höher waren (u.a. Eigenkapital durch Japan Post und Tencent) und den Kassenbestand sogar merklich erhöht haben. Daher kann ich auch - vor allem wegen des Eigenkapitaleinsatzes - die Ratings-Verschlechterung bei S&P nicht nachvollziehen, die die japanischen Rating-Agenturen auch nicht nachvollzogen haben.
Nach meinen Schätzungen reicht diese Erhöhung des Kassenbestandes im ersten Halbjahr sogar aus, den niedrigeren negativen Investing Cash Flow des zweiten Halbjahrs und den immer noch negativen, aber das auf viel niedrigerem Niveau, Operating Cash Flow abzudecken.
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/investors/ Latest IR Materials Second Quarter 2021 View Materials Earnings release, presentation material and supplement (21Q2PPT_E.pdf)
Investing Cash Flow in the second half of 2021 will be a lot lower than the negative 191.0 billion JPY in the first, because most invests in mobile was done.
Operating Cash Flow will be lower negative in the second half of 2021 than the 168.4 billion JPY in the first half of 2021. The two most important reasons will be after my estimates the increase of higher revenues of Rakuten Mobile and lower roaming-costs of Rakuten Mobile through better coverage of the own network.
Libuda
: The Rakuten Altiostar deal causing turbulence
The Rakuten Altiostar deal is going to cause turbulence across the RAN market segment and the overall 5G space
by Ron Westfall | August 20, 2021
For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Shelly Kramer and Ron Westfall assess why the Rakuten Altiostar deal is going to cause turbulence across the RAN market segment and the overall 5G space. The conversation addressed:
• Why incumbent RAN players, Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung need to up their support of open RAN, because their customers are demanding it, the regulatory bodies are pointing in that direction, as well as the competitive implications of the Rakuten Altiostar deal. • Now the operators can separate and disaggregate the software from the hardware, and not have to buy both components from one supplier. They can now mix up the supply more, gain more bidding leverage, and more innovation possibilities from the Open RAN/Open 5G approach. • Why Open RAN specialists, such as Mavenir, Parallel Wireless, and Radisys, are more attractive takeover targets
Libuda
: Rakute's acquisition of Altiostar a game changer
by Ron Westfall | August 20, 2021
For this vignette of a recent episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast, Part of the 5G Factor series, analysts Shelly Kramer and Ron Westfall explore Rakuten’s acquisition of Altiostar and why it epitomizes the approach many CSPs should adopt. The discussion highlighted:
• Rakuten already invested in Altiostar back in May of 2019 and subsequently they collaborated to get Rakuten’s cloud native virtualized mobile network up and running in early 2020 in Japan. • How Altiostar provided the kicker to Rakuten’s mobile network in September of 2020 by providing a container-based cloud data 5G RAN capability and taking 5G innovation to the next level in a production network. • Rakuten’s purchase of Altiostar for a billion dollars plus provided a robust evaluation and is good news for Open RAN specialists in terms of being a potential acquisition target.
Rakuten’s acquisition of Altiostar stirs up the competitive mix throughout the 5G landscape, showing that for the first time a CSP is going to buy Open RAN assets to move their outcomes forward, to move their objectives strategically in this manner. In sum, a game changer.
Rakuten Mobile, mobile carrier service contract applications exceed 5 million lines
about 19 hours ago
Rakuten Mobile announced today on August 23, 2021 that the total number of contracts for the rate plan “Rakuten UN-LIMIT VI” and MVNO service, which began to be provided on April 8, 2020, has exceeded 5 million lines. bottom.
Rakuten Mobile is steadily increasing the number of contracted lines
Rakuten Mobile started accepting advance applications for “Rakuten UN-LIMIT” from March 3, 2020, and the number of applications was 1 million on June 30, 2020, and 2 million on December 30, 2020. On March 9, 2021, it announced that it had exceeded 3 million lines.
From April 8, 2021, which is the first anniversary of the full-scale start of the service, a new campaign will be started in which the plan fee of “Rakuten UN-LIMIT VI” will be free for 3 months, and from April 30th, the iPhone 12 lineup, AirTag, AirPods We have also started handling Apple products such as Pro, and now all iPhone series equipped with iOS 14.4 or later are compatible with Rakuten mobile line.
Rakuten Mobile has a faster-than-expected pace of new mobile subscriber additions, and a next increase will come from the realizing of synergies from the Japan Post alliance.
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