Rakuten wesentlich besser als Rocket

Transforming the Economics of Telecom: Rakuten Mobile and Altiostar reinvent Radio Access Networks (RAN)
3 hours ago

Base stations that make up Rakuten Mobile’s new network in Japan are unlike any others in the world. They are the first anywhere to use a virtualized cloud-native solution developed by Altiostar Networks, Inc., an innovative Massachusetts-based company that is less than 10 years old.

Why is this new technology significant? Unlike traditional base stations, Rakuten Mobile’s minimalist radio masts are largely powered by Altiostar vRAN software hosted on the cloud. That means a new Rakuten Mobile base station can be connected to its network in as little as eight minutes, compared to days or weeks for a conventional setup, dramatically cutting deployment costs. As there is very little on-site hardware, these base stations are also more robust and cost a lot less to run.

The electronic and computing power at mast is minimized, and compute-intensive software and applications have been centralized on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, enabling Rakuten Mobile to build redundancy and resiliency that was never possible with conventional architecture.

“If there is an accident at base station, there is no need for an engineer to get access to the site immediately,” says Ashraf M. Dahod, CEO of Altiostar. “We can automatically detect a failure and switch to a back-up, so you have recovery in minutes, rather than days.”

https://rakuten.today/blog/...n-mobile-partner-profile-altiostar.html  

Intrigued by Rakuten Mobile’s approach, mobile network operators around the world are evaluating whether they can use its streamlined architecture to dramatically lower the cost of deploying and operating 5G. For Altiostar, which is a major contributor to the Rakuten Communications Platform, that represents a significant opportunity. “Operators recognize that their customers want the high performance and low latency of 5G, but they want it at the same price as 4G,” says Dahod. “There has to be a different way, with a completely different supply chain, and the network has to be able to adapt to what the user is doing, which requires a lot of software intelligence.”

https://rakuten.today/blog/...n-mobile-partner-profile-altiostar.html
 

lässt sich m.E nur schwer abschätzen:

It is still very much a work in progress, though. To fortify the offer, and burnish its software credentials, Rakuten has signaled its interest in targeted acquisitions. It has already pounced on Innoeye, a US developer of operational support systems that complement the business support systems provided by Netcracker for Rakuten's own network. Externally, Amin evidently believes this "back-office" part of the business needs a dose of innovation that his newly acquisitive employer can administer.

Buying the companies that contribute to its Japanese network is not a complete departure from Rakuten's previous approach. Before today's announcement, it had taken a major stake in Altiostar, another US firm whose software powers radios built by Airspan, NEC (Netcracker's owner) and Nokia. When Altiostar does deals with other service providers, Rakuten indirectly benefits as one of the US company's main investors.

Clearly, though, Rakuten is not out to purchase all the companies that have contributed to its network. These range from industry giants like Cisco and Nokia to much smaller software specialists such as Altiostar and Innoeye. The overarching plan is to bundle the applications and software developed internally, through acquisition and with external partners into what Rakuten calls the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP). This will then be made available to customers through an app store interface, allowing other service providers to customize their own platforms. If all goes to plan, it will be launched at the end of this year, said Amin.

https://www.lightreading.com/asia/...bal-telecom-market/d/d-id/759596
 

weil sie tatsächlich erfolgen und nicht zum Kaschieren von Gewinnschwäche als Deckmäntelchen benutzt werden:

https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/...-plans-bleed-red/2020/05/  

in Sales Enablement Software Market

Comprehensive Research of Sales Enablement Software Market | • Rakuten Aquafadas • SAN eForce • Whatfix • Autopilot • Pipedrive
Post dateMay 29, 2020

https://coleofduty.com/news/2020/05/29/...opilot-%E2%80%A2-pipedrive/  

Who buys from Rakuten Ichiba?

Rakuten Ichiba has over 115 million customers in Japan, which is more than 90% of the entire population. It encompasses all corners of modern Japanese society, from students to housewives. Unlike Amazon Japan though, the demographic of shoppers on Rakuten Ichiba are typically female users between the ages of 30 and 50, and they are often making family purchases.

When compared with consumers in other parts of the world, the Japanese are fundamentally different in how they shop online. Rather than being motivated solely by price and convenience, they are much more concerned with overall quality.

By nature, Japanese people are careful and considerate in their decision making when shopping. They take time planning their purchases and research the best options available before making a decision to buy.

https://www.webretailer.com/b/selling-on-rakuten-japan/
 

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/...ow-theyre-regretting-it  

By Indrajeet Deshpande
Friday, May 15, 2020

A demand-side platform (DSP) helps advertisers purchase ad impressions in real-time, over the internet. Considering the competition among DSPs in the market, it can be daunting to pick a DSP that best suits your requirements. Here are five demand-side platform companies and a comparison of their key offerings to help you kickstart your search for the ideal DSP.

Pocketmath PRO

Pocketmath’s self-serve mobile DSP allows brands to reach out to their audience on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices. Pocketmath PRO offers cost per mille (CPM) bidding and enables advertisers to target their audience on both — mobile web and mobile apps. Brands can establish mobile app usage-based audience segments using Pocketmath’s AppGraph feature.

It is to be noted that Pocketmath PRO is strictly a mobile DSP and doesn’t offer desktop or cross-device functionality.

Here are the key features of the demand-side platform:

Types of inventory: Banner, video, native, rich media

Targeting Capabilities: Demographic, behavioral, hyperlocal, time-based, publisher/domain URL, carrier, device, OS, retargeting

Reporting: In-built dashboard

DMP Integration: Offers integrations with DMPs such as Lotame and Neustar AdAdvisor Audiences

Anti-fraud Measures: Integrations with Pixalate and Integral Ad Science (IAS)

Pricing: Charges a margin of 20% of the ad spend

https://marketing.toolbox.com/articles/ads/...ide-platform-companies/
 

By
Jon Prior
May 29, 2020, 6:17 p.m. EDT

Two months after Rakuten withdrew its bid for a banking charter in the United States, the Japanese e-commerce giant has resubmitted its application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Rakuten, which operates in the U.S. as a shopper rewards program and has built an online banking and credit card empire in Asia, revised its application for an industrial loan company after receiving feedback from the FDIC, a company spokesperson said Friday. Rakuten also has an application pending with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions for an ILC charter; federal and state approval are necessary in this case.

“Rakuten Bank America is confident that the revised application is stronger and is responsive to the FDIC’s feedback,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

https://www.americanbanker.com/news/...iles-with-fdic-for-ilc-charter  

As Crimson Red model hits stores, Rakuten Mini developers share backstory of ground-breaking phone

2 days ago

In the three months since its release, Rakuten Mobile’s first original device, the Rakuten Mini, has made big waves for a small phone.

Measuring just 10.6cm by 5.3cm and weighing 79 grams, the phone was designed for people who want the convenience of a powerful handset — complete with FeliCa touchless payment capability, facial recognition, high-res 16MP camera and more — but with the added benefit of being able to easily slip it into a small pocket or handbag.

Media in Japan and around the world have praised the phone for its originality and compactness and interest in the device continues to grow with the recent release of a “Crimson Red” version to complement the existing “Night Black” and “Cool White” variants.

https://rakuten.today/blog/...backstory-of-ground-breaking-phone.html  

Kobo Writing Life Adds Cost-Per-Circulation Model Option for the OverDrive Library Borrowing System

MAY 27, 2020

New Addition: Through the CPC Model, OverDrive distribution outlets will pay the self-published author each time an eBook is checked out by a customer (“CPC price”). The CPC price is 10 percent of the OCOU eBook price, with a minimum price of $0.99 USD. As with OCOU, multiple customers may check out the title at the same time.

“We are delighted to be able to introduce a new way for Kobo Writing Life authors to reach library readers. We believe in allowing authors to reach readers, however they’d like to read. This exciting new opportunity helps KWL authors further diversify their publishing portfolio and makes it easy for librarians to find and take a chance on new, talented authors,” said Tara Cremin, Senior Manager, Author Experience, Kobo Writing Life.

USA Today bestselling author Penny Reid said: “Libraries are essential for book discovery, now more than ever.”

https://www.kobo.com/news/...r-the-overdrive-library-borrowing-system
 

The expert fangirls and fanboys for everything K-Drama and Asian entertainment

Viki is a global TV site and the ultimate destination for K-Drama and Asian entertainment. Together with Soompi, the online K-Pop authority, Viki breaks down barriers that stand between great entertainment and its fans, no matter where they are.

We call ourselves the expert fangirls and fanboys for everything K-Drama and Asian entertainment. Together with Soompi, our ultimate K-Pop destination, we work, create, and innovate to bring our fandom dreams to life - one show and one feature at a time.

https://blog.viki.com/about

Unlock the World

Every day, millions of viewers around the world watch, discover, socialize and subtitle the amazing global primetime programs available on Viki. We help content and distribution partners reach and keep new and unlock new revenue opportunities.

https://www.viki.com/partnersaudiences  

A huge untapped opportunity yet to be realised  

As a result of consumers staying at home, people’s interactions with brands have changed; consumers are looking for brands to communicate authentically at this time.  

A key driver of this attitude is that many consumers’ financial situations have been affected dramatically by the pandemic (35%). Consumers believe the brands that emotionally understand their customers are the ones that will have success after the crisis (26%).  

Some 45% of UK respondents say ads that are funny, engaging, or entertaining will increase their likeliness of using an AVOD service, while 28% of respondents said relevant ads based on individual viewing habits or shopping behaviour will encourage their decision to use the AVOD service.

Anthony Capano, comments, “With over 50% of people globally watching more streaming services, we can create a sense of escapism through entertainment. Brands have the opportunity to be part of this great content and connect with consumers via AVOD platforms at this time.

“Advertising alongside content that captivates people’s attention can help brands build positive relationships with consumers. Whether it’s demonstrating empathy or showing support to local communities, brands can use advertising to demonstrate responsibility.”

The reality of our situation in the “new normal”

Capano concludes, “The change to our daily routines, workspaces and connections with those we hold dearest calls now more than ever for global kindness. Consumers are looking for brands to be considerate and caring, both as employers and in how they treat their customers.  

“Consumers are also looking for video content without wanting to sacrifice the viewing experience to irrelevant or insensitive ads. As long as the messaging of advertising strikes the right tone, AVOD helps brands successfully meet people’s need for escapism during challenging times and creates a new way to engage with audiences.”

https://blog.rakutenadvertising.com/en-uk/news/hidden-power-of-avod/

 

Modernize with a virtualized radio access network from Red Hat and Altiostar

To remain competitive, communications service providers (CSPs) must modernize their infrastructure. Radio access networks (RANs) are one of the most expensive mobile network elements and are often the source of performance problems that affect customer experience. As an alternative to proprietary, hardware-based solutions, Red Hat and Altiostar offer a virtualized RAN (vRAN) solution that can help CSPs deliver more customer value, reduce network costs, and prepare for future growth and uncertainty.

https://www.redhat.com/de/resources/...tiostar-partner-solution-brief  

Prepare for 5G networks Modernize your radio access network with Red Hat and Altiostar

Relentless demand for mobile broadband
Demand for mobile bandwidth continues to grow as customers access new services and applications. To remain competitive, telecommunications companies must cost-effectively expand their network while also improving user experience. Radio access networks (RANs) are an expensive element in mobile networks. They often require specialized hardware that can be difficult to upgrade and scale. As a result, RANs often become a source of performance problems that affect customer experience. Red Hat and Altiostar offer a virtualized RAN (vRAN) solution that addresses these issues to help you deliver more customer value, reduce capital and operational costs, and prepare for the future.

Modernize and virtualize your radio access network
The Red Hat® and Altiostar solution delivers full RAN functionality using network functions virtualization (NFV) infrastructure from Red Hat and RAN technology from Altiostar. This approach decouples baseband functions from the underlying hardware and creates a software fabric that spans both Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G networks. Within the solution architecture, virtualized baseband units (vBBU) process and dynamically allocate resources to remote radio units (RRUs) based on the current network needs. Baseband functions are split between central units (CUs) and distributed units (DUs) that can be deployed in aggregation centers or in central offices using a distributed architecture.

Reduce costs through network flexibility
Cost control and business efficiency are key concerns for telecommunications companies. The Red Hat and Altiostar solution can help your business manage expenses and increase efficiency using a flexible network architecture. With an open source, industry-standard foundation, you can choose the hardware that best fits your needs and budget. Flexible component connectivity lets you use both existing and new transport networks to maximize the return on existing investments and reduce new capital expenditures. Additionally, a virtualized deployment approach reduces operational expenses.

https://www.redhat.com/cms/managed-files/...rief-f17782-201906-en.pdf
 

NMB Bank brings maiden service in Nepalese Banking industry; now open new account with the Bank via your Viber

Wed, May 13, 2020 6:22 AM on Corporate, Latest,

After the successful launch of its innovative service wherein customers can open new accounts via Facebook Messenger, NMB Bank has announced the launch of the  service via the Viber messaging platform.

Customers can now avail account/Fixed Deposit (FD) opening  service through Viber. Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 scenario, the service is one of the many initiatives that the Bank has lined up to create an environment for customers to opt for easy and smart banking whilst simultaneously ensuring safety and security.

“The launch of account/FD opening service via Viber Messaging and Facebook Messenger marks the beginning of a series of innovative and convenient products and services that have been designed to truly enhance the banking experience of our customers. The current situation is apt for the launch of this service as its adds value to customers by helping them conduct banking transactions without having to compromise on their safety” said a statement issued by the Bank.

https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/...ith-the-bank-via-your-viber
 

Carrefour and DIA turn to Uber Eats and Glovo to sell online groceries as demand surges
OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS31 Mar 2020by Alex Sword

Meanwhile, in Spain, supermarket group DIA is partnering with on-demand shopping app Glovo and converting its stores to warehouses. The company has now converted 11 of its stores into areas for preparing online orders and hired an additional 1000 people as pickers and delivery drivers. The stores are located in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga and Cadiz.

DIA is also working with Glovo, the on-demand courier app, to add a new channel for distributing orders. The service will be available either through DIA’s site or Glovo’s app. Customers simply place the order and a personal shopper picks it up from the store and delivers.

https://internetretailing.net/...ine-groceries-as-demand-surges-21190  

It’s a network architecture that costs 40% less than traditional telecommunication infrastructure and the savings on opex are even better, according to CTO Tareq Amin. The operator is passing some of those savings on to customers in the form of a $28 monthly subscription for unlimited data, voice, and messaging services.

Rakuten Mobile’s successful launch also serves as a clarion call for the wireless industry, proving that there are indeed new and more efficient ways to assemble networks. Virtualization, open RAN, and cloud-native architectures have been demonstrably beneficial for many years, but this is the first time an entire network has been designed from the ground up riding exclusively on those technologies.

Industry observers and competitors that were skeptical of the company’s approach have been largely silenced. However, Rakuten Mobile isn’t completely free from legacy equipment vendors and traditional technology. It is still using technology and hardware from industry stalwarts. Equipment, software, and services from Airspan, Altiostar, Cisco, Intel, Mavenir, NEC, Nokia, Red Hat, and Qualcomm all play a role in Rakuten Mobile’s network.

https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/...tualized-reality/2020/04/  

https://www.modadivasmagazine.com/en/2020/05/28/...en-mobile-shibuya/

Aber was noch nicht ist, kann ja noch werden.  

scheint die bisherige Marketing-Abstinenz bei Rakuten Mobile hier aufgeweicht zu sein:

Fixed-line "Rakuten Hikari" is free for one year when you sign up for Rakuten Mobile. New Campaign Implementation-Engadget Japan Version

1 day ago

https://japan.topnews.cloud/...implementation-engadget-japan-version/
 

aber immerhin:

Lyft Inc. LYFT, -2.79% disclosed Tuesday afternoon that ride-hailing activity has picked up as COVID-19 restrictions have eased, and the company improved its forecast for expected second-quarter losses. Shares gained more than 3% in after-hours trading. Lyft admitted that it gave 70% fewer rides in May than it did in the same month last year, but said that rides increased 26% from April and were performing better in cities that have begun relaxing restrictions. "For example, rideshare rides increased 73% in Austin, 41% in Denver, 54% in Las Vegas, 59% in Miami, 64% in Nashville, 42% in New York City, 40% in Phoenix, 49% in Salt Lake City and 40% in Seattle in the month of May 2020 versus the month of April 2020," Lyft disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In response, Lyft said that adjusted Ebitda losses would not exceed $325 million, about 10% better than the maximum $360 million in highly adjusted losses the company predicted when it released quarterly earnings in early May.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/...-02?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo
 

Online communities thriving amid quarantine, experts say
Cathrine Gonzales June 02, 2020

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos are turning to online community groups to access everyday essentials, leaders of virtual communities have noted in a recent webinar organized by public relations agency M2.0 Communications, Inc.

For instance, messages sent on Viber have increased by 120 percent, calls received by users are up by 85%, and the average number of community engagement rose by 120 percent when the community quarantine was enforced in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Ejercito, user-generated content communities have become so popular that Viber even has a dedicated community that serves as a directory for existing communities on the app. She said these user-created groups serve as channels that cover a variety of topics and interests, ranging from hyper-local marketplaces to neighborhood coordination points.

Read more: https://technology.inquirer.net/100165/...e-experts-say#ixzz6OHiQYShz


 

Jun. 2, 2020 6:40 PM ET
Summary

Rakuten is now officially the 4th telecom operator in Japan after SoftBank, NTT, and KDDI.

As a new entrant with no legacy debt, it has a competitive advantage, which allows leveraging the latest cloud-based virtual network technology from the start.

Rakuten has partnered with KDDI to launch an offering at 50% cheaper price than SoftBank and NTT. KDDI has a bleeding market share and will be very incentivized to win.

At 1x P/S, Rakuten is an attractive buy. The stock has received a lot of pressure in the last few years, potentially due to the volatile profit margins and perception of over-expansion.

Rakuten is still the largest eCommerce player in Japan by far. Core business still grows at +18%, while it also has enough scale and capital to enter virtually any market.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/...-rakuten-attractive-bet-on-mobile
 

Rakuten Mobile and NEC Agree to Jointly Develop Containerized Standalone 5G Core Network
Business Wire
June 3, 2020

Rakuten Mobile, Inc. and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) today announced that the two companies have reached an agreement to jointly develop the containerized standalone (SA) 5G core network (5GC) to be utilized in Rakuten Mobile’s fully virtualized cloud native 5G network.

Based on the agreement, Rakuten Mobile and NEC will jointly develop the coHTML-Editor einschalten
 LinkChart/Grafik|Einfügen:
ntainerized SA 5G mobile core to be made available on the Rakuten Communications Platform (RCP), Rakuten Mobile’s fully virtualized and containerized cloud-native mobile network platform. The two companies will collaborate to build a Japan-made, highly reliable 5GC, based on the 5GC software source code developed by NEC. Subsequent to the launch of its non-standalone (NSA) 5G service in 2020, Rakuten Mobile aims to provide its SA 5G service in Japan in 2021.

The containerized 5GC will also play a key role in the global expansion of RCP, a platform aimed at offering solutions and services for the deployment of virtualized networks at speed and low cost by telecom companies and enterprises around the world, tailored for their unique needs. The 5GC will be offered as an application on the RCP Marketplace, allowing customers to quickly and easily "click, purchase and deploy" a fully virtualized SA 5G core network solution.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...le-nec-agree-jointly-023700655.html
 

Rakuten Mobile and NEC: 5G Technology Collaboration

https://www.youtube.com/...=16&v=Bash-eCLQSk&feature=emb_logo