The less bumpy way to ride e-commerce = Rakuten (Seite 104)

[FlankerStan]

Rakuten owning 47% of Cabify

According to the report "Mobility on Demand Market" the mobility on demand market was valued at $552.90 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $1694.7 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2031.

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/smart-cities-and-e…

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Rakuten Viber launches two new features for Premium users

4/08/2023

0It’s been less than a month since Viber launched its premium service in the United States and several other countries, and the company has just announced it’s now rolling out two new features to those who chose to pay to be Premium users.

So, if you’re paying for Viber Plus, you should be getting two new important features: Invisible Mode and Read Voice Messages. Both should further enhance privacy and ease of communication on Viber.

The new Read Voice Message feature turns voice messages into text so any message can be ready anytime, anywhere. Invisible Mode is just as useful since it allows users to read messages and browse on the platform privately.

Not only that, but users will also be able to see who is online while their own status shows offline. More importantly, thanks to Invisible Mode, you’ll be able to open messages without revealing that it’s been read.

And if you don’t have Viber Plus yet, perhaps these two new features will make you start paying for it. To go premium, you’ll have to pay just $1.99 per month, and you’ll be getting not just new features but also stop seeing ads.

The new features will be rolled out to the premium service for iOS in the US, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Switzerland, Kuwait, Australia, Tuvalu, Israel, Sweden, Austria, India, and Italy, with additional regions added on a rolling basis.

According to Viber, Android users where Viber Plus is available will have access to the two new features sometime in September.

https://www.retailnews.asia/viber-launches-two-new-features-for-premium-users/

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Additional to my last posting: on youtube

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Watch Rakuten Bank Sees Edge Over Rivals - Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-08-07/rakuten-ban…

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NEC radio unit receives first O-RAN compliance certification from JAPAN OTIC

TOKYO, Aug 9, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) has obtained O-RAN Certification from Japan OTIC (Open Testing & Integration Centres)(1) for its MB5450 5G base station radio unit (RU), certifying that the RU conforms with the O-RAN Fronthaul Interface Specifications(2) established by the Open Radio Access Network Alliance (O-RAN ALLIANCE)(3). This RU has been delivered to Rakuten Symphony and is being deployed globally.

This is the first certification issued by Japan OTIC since its establishment, making NEC the first major global vendor to obtain this certification(4).

Japan OTIC was established in December 2022 by YRP R&D Promotion Committee, NTT DOCOMO, INC., KDDI CORPORATION, SoftBank Corp. and Rakuten Mobile, Inc. at Yokosuka Research Park near Tokyo as a center for testing and certification based on the international standard specifications defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE. A test environment developed by Japan OTIC and Rakuten Mobile was used for this certification. The certification confirms that NEC's RU conforms to O-RAN specifications and that it has cleared the requirements for performance and interoperability between devices connected to the O-RAN interface.

Sharad Sriwastawa, Acting President of Rakuten Symphony, commented: "Rakuten Symphony is thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone together with NEC and Japan OTIC. This is an example of Japan's leading role in advancing the global Open RAN ecosystem by nurturing local technology innovation and providing a collaborative, open and impartial testing environment. We look forward to providing NEC's 5G O-RAN certified products, developed in Japan, to our customers around the world."

https://www.asiaone.com/business/nec-radio-unit-receives-fir…

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The case for optimism

The timing of Amin’s departure ironically coincided with the telco just finishing a week-long Rakuten Optimism 2023 event, which saw Mikitani (above) highlighting the collaboration underway with OpenAI.

To date, Rakuten has already launched several services powered by OpenAI’s technology. The messaging app Rakuten Viber provides users with an official chatbot powered by the interactive AI ChatGPT and image generation AI DALL·E 2 provided by OpenAI.

Rakuten Securities has launched an Investment AI Assistant (beta version) which uses ChatGPT to help customers learn about the basics of investment and investment methods suited to their experience level. And last month, Rakuten Life Insurance also introduced ChatGPT to its dedicated terminals to assist insurance agents in their daily work.

https://fr.techtribune.net/smartphones/ceo-tareq-amin-depart…

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Tareq Amin on Linkedin

Today, my heart brimming with gratitude and my spirit ignited with excitement for the future. After considerable reflection and deliberation, I have made the decision to step down from my role at Rakuten. This decision, while not easy, is one I believe to be right one.

I have always pursued my passions and lived my dreams. In any role I have taken, I have put my heart and soul into achieving business goals and objectives. This does not come without hard work and sacrifices. And now, as I embark on this new phase, I am eager to channel my energy and attention towards creating cherished moments and nurturing bonds that matter most in life – my children.

During my time at Rakuten, I am proud to have been part of a team that has disrupted the industry and left a lasting impact on the world. We have challenged the status quo and pioneered new approaches that have transformed the way telecom Networks are build, architected and operated . This disruption has not only shaped the industry but has also brought positive change to the lives of many.

As I prepare to embark on a new chapter, I carry the learnings and experiences gained at Rakuten with me. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the chance to make a difference in the world once again.

Thank you, Rakuten leadership, for your unwavering support. Thank you, Rakuten employees, for your dedication and collaboration. Together, we have achieved great things, and I am proud to have been part of this incredible journey.

I look forward to staying connected with each one of you as I embrace new challenges and continue to strive for innovation and disruption in the industry.

Wishing you all continued success and fulfillment in your own professional endeavors.
Warm regards,

Tareq Amin

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Rakuten Bank Sees Edge Over Rivals Once BOJ Ends Negative Interest Rates

21h ago

Japanese online lender Rakuten Bank Ltd. says it’s better positioned than rivals to enjoy a profit boost when the Bank of Japan eventually ends its negative interest-rate policy.

A rise in short-term rates would have an immediate benefit for the newly listed bank given that many of the loans and other assets on its books have adjustable rates, Chief Executive Officer Hiroyuki Nagai said.

“I think the proportion of our assets that have floating rates is the highest among Japanese banks,” he said in a Bloomberg Television interview, without giving figures. “So for us, the end of the negative interest rate policy means a big increase in profits.”

Rakuten Bank had 13.7 million accounts as of March — the most of any Japanese digital lender — up 58% from 8.7 million three years earlier. It aims to increase the number to 25 million by March 2027, which is the equivalent of one for every five people in the country.
The stock has jumped about 39% since its April initial public offering, which was Japan’s largest debut share sale since 2018.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/rakuten-bank-sees-edge-over-riva…

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Optimism Keynote Speech

Die Rakuten Group veranstaltet Rakuten Optimism 2023, eine der größten praktischen Veranstaltungen der Gruppe, im Pacifico Yokohama. Am ersten Tag, heute, dem 2., betrat Herr Hiroshi Mikitani, Chairman of the Board und Chief Executive Officer des President und Chief Executive Officer, die Bühne. In der Eröffnungs-Keynote sprach er über die Zukunftsaussichten rund um Rakuten Mobile.
Rakuten Mobile, das sich zum Ziel gesetzt hat, "den Mobilfunkmarkt zu demokratisieren" als soziales Menschenrecht für Smartphones, hat im Juni einen neuen Preisplan "Rakuten Strongest Plan" auf den Markt gebracht. Nach den von Herrn Mikitani vorgelegten Daten steigt die Zahl der Abonnenten nach dem Start des Plans tendenziell an.

Herr Mikitani ging auch auf die Analyseergebnisse von Opensignal ein und äußerte sich zuversichtlich über die Verbesserung der Leitungsqualität. Die Desktop-Version (Beta) der Kommunikations-App "Rakuten Link" wurde heute, am 2., veröffentlicht, und wir werden den Service weiter verbessern.
Das Geschäft von Rakuten Mobile scheint ein wichtiger Teil der damit verbundenen Dienstleistungen der Rakuten Group zu sein. Herr Mikitani, der Daten zeigte, dass der Gesamtvertriebswert von "Rakuten Ichiba" aufgrund des Rakuten Mobile-Vertrags gestiegen ist, sagte: "[Rakuten Mobile] trägt zum Wachstum der Rakuten-Gruppe bei."

Von vollständig virtualisierten Netzwerken, die zu Kostensenkungen führen, bis hin zum Einsatz von Drohnen und Satellitenkommunikation "macht Rakuten Mobile in jeder Hinsicht die fortschrittlichsten Dinge der Welt", sagt Mikitani.

Weltweit wird Rakuten Symphony eine Rolle bei der Bereitstellung der Technologie von Rakuten Mobile in der Welt spielen. Das Unternehmen und VEON of Ukraine werden mit Open RAN im Bereich der digitalen Dienstleistungen zusammenarbeiten, um die Infrastruktur in der Ukraine wieder aufzubauen.

Am Ende der Keynote erscheint als Überraschungsgast OpenAI-CEO Sam Altman aus der Ferne. Es wurde bekannt gegeben, dass die Rakuten Group und OpenAI vereinbart haben, Dienste mit der neuesten KI-Technologie zu entwickeln. Durch die Kombination der riesigen Datenmengen, die sich im Besitz der Rakuten-Gruppe befinden, mit der Leistungsfähigkeit von KI (künstliche Intelligenz) werden wir neue Dienstleistungen schaffen.

https://k-tai.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1521169.html

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Tareq Amin excited about the opportunities that lie ahead

Tareq Amin excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the chance to make a difference in the world once again

What is open RAN backer Tareq Amin’s Rakuten legacy?

Dan Meyer | Executive Editor August 7, 2023 10:38 PM

High-profile Rakuten executive Tareq Amin has left the Japanese operator and platform provider, taking with him a legacy of leading that firm’s innovative open radio access network (RAN) development and deployment.

In a message posted to his LinkedIn profile, Amin stated a desire to spend more time with his family. “I am eager to channel my energy and attention toward creating cherished moments and nurturing bonds that matter most in life – my children,” he wrote.

Amin added that he was “excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the chance to make a difference in the world once again,” and that he would “embrace new challenges and continue to strive for innovation and disruption in the industry.”

https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/what-is-open-ran-ba…