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.

www.forbes.com/sites/erikamorphy/2014/09/...ere-comes-rakuten/

Rakuten identified data architecture as a true bottleneck. To transform a utility provider into a growth engine, the company proposed four strategic imperatives.
1. Unify the data estate
Rakuten sees AI as an amplifier: It makes the input louder. If you feed it fragmented data, you get fragmented output. The company made a strategic bet in building a deep learning foundation that unifies data across the entire Rakuten Ecosystem, spanning 70 businesses and 10 million offline touchpoints.
By enforcing a single Rakuten ID, the company has turned 45.9 million monthly active users into a high-fidelity profile. “Unlike generic AI agents that rely on inferred ‘shadow’ preferences, our AI reasons over deterministic, first-party transaction data – actual purchases, payments and redemptions,” Raju emphasized. “Companies cannot buy this asset after the fact. They earn it over years by genuinely serving customers.”
2. Solve real user problems
Rakuten prioritizes AI for high-impact utility, focusing on AI agents that plan, execute and complete transactions. For example, users can now search and book a hotel room or a golf course entirely through conversation with Rakuten AI.
“Our focus remains on augmenting human intelligence and care. A prime example is RAPTOR, our Gen AI-powered customer service agent,” Raju said. “By operating on a unified data foundation, RAPTOR goes beyond simple advice to resolve issues and anticipate needs, freeing human agents to service more customers.” By boosting auto-resolution rates across more than 10 business units, RAPTOR is expected to deliver 4.3 billion yen in annualized cost savings in 2026.
3. Partner with the best, build the best
To scale at the speed of the market, Rakuten embraces a dual-track strategy. The company partners with frontier model providers for rapid deployment and general intelligence, while building domain-specific small language models (SLMs) via model distillation. This ensures cost-efficiency, ultra-low latency and total control over proprietary data.
Rakuten currently has 11 AI agents live across services such as Rakuten Ichiba, Travel and Mobile, with more than 50 services planned. “Because we own the full stack, our agents don’t just advise – they transact, creating a ‘first mile’ of personalization and a ‘last mile’ of execution that competitors cannot replicate,” he stated.
4. Close the loyalty feedback loop
The backbone of Rakuten’s growth is the company’s AI growth flywheel, which moves through three sectors: engage, expand and differentiate. Loyalty programs, Rakuten Points and SPU, are not just rewards – they are the connective tissue of the Rakuten Ecosystem. In 2025, the company found that users who engage with the loyalty program use 4.6 times more services than those who don’t. The revenue impact is exponential: customers using three segments (Mobile, E-commerce, FinTech) generate 13.5 times the annual revenue of a single-segment user.
Most importantly, loyalty acts as a massive churn-reduction tool. “If we index the churn of a single-service user at 100, those using four or more services have a churn rate of just 1. We have successfully turned loyalty into a self-reinforcing cycle of revenue,” Raju explained.
From utility to growth
Looking ahead, Rakuten sees the future of telecom as not just the pipes, but the ecosystem built on top. Mobile operators hold the industry’s most valuable real-time context: location, app usage and service patterns. This is the “ultimate sensor.”
To the mobile industry, the company offers a clear roadmap for transformation:
        1.§Leverage the network as the ultimate sensor. Treat mobile context as a proprietary data asset.
        2.§Move beyond the utility trap. Build a data-centric architecture before asking AI to do anything with it.
        3.§Use AI to control the first mile and the last mile. Capture intent early and complete transactions end-to-end.
Business first. Data second. Technology third. The mobile industry must leverage AI today to activate their flywheel for future growth.
The four strategic imperatives outlined above represent one vision for telecom’s future. For a broader look at the mobile industry’s changing economics, and the paths available to operators, read the Rakuten Symphony Industry Growth Report 2026.

rakuten.today/blog/...d-ecosystems-to-supercharge-growth.html

Rakuten Card (Tokyo, Japan) announced that, starting August 3, 2026, it will waive installment payment fees for up to 24 installments when using eligible “Rakuten Card” cards issued under participating international brands at the Apple Store Online or at a nearby Apple Store, with no entry or pre-registration required.Installment payments are a payment method that allows customers to specify the number of installments for each transaction.

www.bing.com/...;FORM=SSQNT1&adppc=EDGEDSP&PC=EDGEDSP

In addition to Money Bridge, Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities launched “Rakuten Bank Securities-Backed Loans” in June 2025. This new collaborative service leverages the Rakuten Ecosystem by allowing customers to borrow funds from Rakuten Bank using domestic listed stocks held at Rakuten Securities as collateral. As a result of these initiatives, Rakuten Bank reached 18.07 million accounts at the end of March 2026, cementing its position as Japan's largest digital bank, and Rakuten Securities surpassed 14 million general securities customer accounts in April 2026, marking the largest number of non-consolidated securities accounts (based on disclosed information) among Japanese securities companies. These fully digital financial services do not require customers to visit a physical location, offering greater convenience and accessibility.

Going forward, Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities are committed to effectively utilizing the strengths of the Rakuten Group to deliver innovative and convenient services that go beyond those offered by traditional digital banks and online securities companies.

global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/0825_02.html

The Rakuten Rakuyoko website features a vibrant, pop-inspired aesthetic tailored to younger demographics. To enhance usability, the platform integrates personalized product recommendations on the home screen and product pages, based on individual browsing and purchase history. The interface is optimized for mobile, utilizing a vertical-scrolling design that mirrors the discovery-led experience of social media, allowing users to navigate products aligned with their personal interests.

Orders on Rakuten Rakuyoko are accepted from a minimum of 2,100 yen (including tax) and include free shipping. Customers earn one Rakuten Point for every 100 yen (excluding tax) spent, which can be applied to future purchases on Rakuten Rakuyoko as well as across the broader Rakuten Ecosystem.
Rakuten remains committed to expanding its customer touchpoints and delivering a compelling, value-driven shopping experience through this new platform.

global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2026/0825_01.html

I believe, the best investment of Rakuten today is to buy back a small portion of own shares: for example 100 million shares for only $ 500 million. This will reduce the outstanding 2.15 billion shares near 5%.

With the big cash flow of Rakuten this is no problem - and Raktuen will never could buy shares back like the low prices of today.

The pace of this growth is extraordinary. Rakuten Travel’s global GTV (Gross Transaction Volume; total value of all bookings processed) increased by nearly 70% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, followed by a further 78.5% year-over-year increase in the second quarter. When we look at our data from Rakuten Travel Xchange, forward accommodation bookings from June to September are up 70.3% year-over-year, reaching 233% in September alone. All this supports our outlook for another record-breaking year in total inbound spend in 2026.

Where are the travelers coming from?

One of the most prominent changes is the diversification of source markets—or countries where our travelers come from. Japan’s tourism industry had relied heavily on a few key markets in the past, but this is no longer the case.

The growth from Taiwan is a perfect example of this. Bookings are up 156% year-over-year, making it our largest source market by volume. We see similar trends across Hong Kong (+80.9%), Singapore (+36%), South Korea (+27.7%) and the U.S. (+12.1%) for bookings spanning June through September. This variety acts as a stabilizer for the industry, ensuring that Japan remains a top destination regardless of shifts in demand from any single market.

This momentum is driven by a rising number of repeat visitors rather than a mere temporary spike, proof that the Japan brand has wide and lasting appeal in its target markets.

“Evaluating the health of Japan’s travel industry solely by visitor numbers misses the bigger story.”
Who is visiting, and where are they exploring?

We are also witnessing a clear change in who is visiting. According to recent data from EY Strategy and Consulting, 65% of inbound visitors to Japan are repeat travelers.

First-time visitors tend to stick to the so-called “Golden Route hoteliers, and AI has evolved from a novelty to an essential infrastructure.

Rakuten has implemented AI-powered hotel search features as a digital guide to help solve the challenge of regional discovery. Last September, we rolled out a tailored feature on Rakuten AI that helps domestic users find hotels tailored to their unique preferences. Instead of a traveler spending hours filtering through endless search pages, our AI matches them with properties that fit their specific needs.

Technology alone won’t define the next chapter of Japan’s tourism industry, but it will play an increasingly important role in helping travelers discover more of the country.

All the indicators we are seeing point to another strong year for inbound tourism in Japan. But regardless of whether 2026 surpasses last year’s record, evaluating the health of Japan’s travel industry solely by visitor numbers misses the bigger story. The international visitors standing on train platforms around the country represent a deeper shift. Japan’s tourism economy has entered a new stage, one defined by repeat visitors seeking premium travel experiences in destinations across every corner of the country.

All data referenced in this article is from Rakuten Travel and Rakuten Travel Xchange, as of June, 2026.

rakuten.today/blog/...ing-as-a-global-travel-destination.html

As the speakers noted, the ultimate goal of this technology is not to automate the human element out of the store, but to enhance it. “At Rakuten, we believe AI should augment human creativity,” Mao noted. The key question: “How can business leaders leverage Edge and physical AI to handle the heavy lifting, so shop floor teams are freed to deliver true omotenashi (hospitality that exceeds expectation) and build lasting trust with customers?”

The event brought these concepts to life with live demonstrations, including a conversational shopping experience via a Rakuten Shop AI Kiosk powered by Dell and NVIDIA. During the demo, Soo interacted with an agentic AI avatar on a touchscreen to plan a hiking trip in Japan. The agent demonstrated an impressive ability to listen, adapt to abrupt changes in user instructions, and maintain privacy and governance standards for a secure, local experience.

As Japan faces a shrinking workforce, robots are increasingly viewed as a vital support system. NVIDIA’s Hu invited the Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot to the stage to showcase how AI-powered robotics can serve as a friendly store clerk greeting customers, navigating the floor, and even assisting with product retrieval.

By the close of the session, the consensus was clear: AI-powered interfaces and robots hold great potential to empower human experience.  

Hybrid AI: Bringing on-device intelligence to users anytime, anywhere

Another area experiencing a rapid shift is the realm of AI PCs. Here, AI tasks are migrating from exclusively cloud to a mix of desktop and cloud, effectively solving the challenges of rising token costs and connectivity. Taku Okoshi, Executive Officer and Director of the AI Services Supervisory Department at Rakuten Group, was joined onstage by Toru Matsuura, Director of Japan Personal Systems at HP Japan, and Jungo Kasai, Co-founder and CTO of Kotoba Technologies, Inc., to discuss why on-device AI is a game-changing development for both companies and users.

“By running AI directly on your machine rather than through the cloud, users gain faster, more secure, and more private experiences,” Okoshi said, highlighting the recent launch of Rakuten AI for Desktop on HP PCs in Japan. In this pioneering project, the development team overcame significant technical challenges to integrate the Rakuten AI 7B LLM into HP PCs.

Toru Matsuura shared how HP is embedding AI directly into their hardware, focusing on “always-connected” functionality and enhanced security features like  Sure View. “The industry is poised for rapid growth,” Matsuura commented. “HP projects that AI PC adoption will skyrocket from 5% today to 50% by 2030, fueled by the development of efficient Small Language Models (SLMs).”

Kasai from Kotoba Technologies then used an HP AI PC onstage for a live demonstration of his company’s on-device, real-time transcription voice AI. Participants at the event could see the speed and accuracy of on-device AI and how LLM-powered devices can help create more natural, inclusive human-computer interactions, even offline.  

Panelists discuss the next frontier of AI personal computers

The panelists concluded with the message that hybrid AI, combining on-device and cloud capabilities, offers new opportunities for cost efficiency while making user experiences more personal and accessible. As high-performance hardware, optimized AI models and software converge, the vision of “AI at your fingertips” is quickly becoming our new reality.

rakuten.today/blog/...d-physical-ai-on-device-experience.html

You can now check the status of Rakuten Securities' investment trust savings settings using the Rakuten Card app

2026/08/26

Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Koichi Nakamura; hereinafter "Rakuten Card") and Rakuten Securities Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuji Kusunoki; hereinafter "Rakuten Securities") will start using Rakuten Securities' "Rakuten Card" via the Rakuten Card app starting Tuesday, August 25, 2026. We are pleased to announce that we have launched a feature that allows you to check the status of investment trust accumulation settings. Not only can you check how much of the monthly limit of 100,000 yen you have set, but if you want to change the amount, you can smoothly navigate to Rakuten Securities' website. Additionally, we are pleased to announce that in August 2026, the number of investment trust installers using "Rakuten Card" credit payment surpassed 4 million.

Rakuten Card and Rakuten Securities were pioneers in the industry in October 2018 by launching a service that allows you to accumulate investment trusts through credit payment with Rakuten Card. Not only can you make cashless investments without a second thought, but there are no achievement conditions such as card usage amounts. The "Rakuten Card" offers 0.50% or 1.00% of the accumulated amount, the "Rakuten Gold Card" eligible for the Rakuten Card Premium Program offers 0.75% or 1.00%, the "Rakuten Premium Card" offers 1.00%, and the "Rakuten Black Card" has been supported by the ability to earn 2.00% 'Rakuten Points', and as of August 2026, it is used by over 4 million customers. For information about Rakuten Securities' investment trust accumulation "Rakuten Card" credit payment, please see below.

www.rakuten-card.co.jp/corporate/press_release/20260826/

Rakuten Earnings: Raise Fair Value Estimate by 27% on Accelerating Fintech Synergies; Shares Undervalued

Pujance Chan

Aug 11, 2026

Rakuten's June-quarter revenue grew 11.6% year over year, and operating income more than doubled, excluding a JPY 17 billion impairment, driven by financial technology growth and narrower noncore losses in internet services. Rakuten now also targets positive aftertax income for 2026.

www.morningstar.com/company-reports/...ook?listing=0P0000EGGL

Estimated cap table from Dealroom's shareholder data — share of equity by holder. Stakes as last recorded by Dealroom (2026). Percentages are indicative.

Rakuten Capital: Rakuten: 41.5%

Founders: Juan De Antonio, Vicente Pascual, Samuel Lown, Francisco Montero, Aldo S, Vinicius Gracia, Tallis Gomes, Adrian Merino, Michael Koper: 16.5%

ESOP: 10%

dealroom.co/companies/cabify/

Rakuten Earnings: Raise Fair Value Estimate by 27% on Accelerating Fintech Synergies; Shares Undervalued

Pujance Chan

Aug 11, 2026

Rakuten's June-quarter revenue grew 11.6% year over year, and operating income more than doubled, excluding a JPY 17 billion impairment, driven by financial technology growth and narrower noncore losses in internet services. Rakuten now also targets positive aftertax income for 2026.

www.morningstar.com/company-reports/...ook?listing=0P0000EGGL

Meta Platforms Inc. (WhatsApp)
Google LLC
Apple Inc.
Cisco Systems Inc.
Vonage Holdings Corp.
RingCentral Inc.
8x8 Inc.
Zoom Video Communications
Viber Media (Rakuten)
Line Corporation
Telegram Messenger
Nextiva Inc.
Ooma Inc.
Bandwidth Inc.

These companies continue to differentiate themselves through end-to-end encryption, cross-platform compatibility, cloud-based scalability, and integration with broader unified communications ecoystems.

www.einpresswire.com/article/936571035/...at-8-6-cagr-by-2035
 

Macquarie starts coverage of Rakuten with Outperform: Profit turnaround in sight
August 6, 2026

Investing.com - Macquarie has started coverage of Rakuten with an 'Outperform' rating and a price target of 1,100 yen. The reasoning provided was that the Japanese internet and fintech company's profits are at a turning point, as rising profitability in the mobile business is accompanied by strong momentum in financial services.

The research firm stated that 'the worst is over for Rakuten,' and forecasts revenue of 2.88 trillion yen for fiscal year 2026 (+15.2% compared to the previous year) and an operating profit (Non-GAAP) of 244 billion yen, which more than doubles last year's figure. For fiscal years 2027 and 2028, further operating profit growth of 36.6% and 31.8%, respectively, is expected, driven by expansion in fintech and the reduction of losses in the mobile business.

de.finance.yahoo.com/nachrichten/...ewinnwende-152809981.html

Dedicated cellular networks are now being deployed for the exclusive use of enterprises, industrial facilities and other organizations. These private 5G networks serve factories, warehouses, mines, ports, airports and energy facilities with ease. Organizations gain greater control over their network coverage, capacity, performance, security and data sovereignty.

An enterprise private 5G network uses many of the same building blocks as a public cellular network, including a 5G radio access network (RAN), 5G core network, spectrum and SIM-based device authentication.

The RAN provides wireless coverage for connected devices, while the 5G core manages network functions, data traffic, security and connections to enterprise IT and operational technology (OT) systems.

Enterprise private 5G is designed for applications that need predictable performance. Features such as low latency, high reliability, deterministic quality of service (QoS) and 5G network slicing allow network resources to be assigned according to the requirements of different applications.

Security is another important benefit of enterprise private 5G. SIM-based authentication ensures that only authorized devices connect to the network, while private spectrum and traffic isolation provide additional control over how data is transmitted and where it is processed.

Organizations can also deploy a 5G core on edge servers so that sensitive operational data remains on premises rather than traveling across a public network. These capabilities make enterprise private 5G particularly relevant for industrial IoT, enterprise AI and IT/OT environments where cybersecurity, data sovereignty and operational resilience are important requirements.

Enterprise private 5G is also becoming an important connectivity platform for enterprise AI and edge computing. AI applications such as predictive maintenance, automated quality inspection, computer vision, autonomous mobile robots and physical security generate large amounts of data that may need to be processed in real time at the edge.

An enterprise private 5G network provides the secure wireless coverage, mobility, low latency, device density and predictable network performance needed to move that data between sensors, machines, edge computing infrastructure and AI applications. In this role, enterprise private 5G becomes more than another wireless network: it provides a communications foundation for connecting AI, IoT and automation to physical operations.

Rakuten Private Networks is a complete enterprise private 5G system

Rakuten Private Networks provides a complete solution that meets the needs of enterprise use cases. The solution has three main components:

Radio access system for 4G/ 5G. Available in high, mid and low power for a wide range of radio coverage options. Rakuten has built a global portfolio of radio units (RU) that integrate with the radio access system to deliver high performance.

Core Edge system that can be deployed from an appliance or from the cloud, and that provides an interconnect to the IT / OT environment.

Management and orchestration software that provides the services needed to drive the autonomous operation of the whole system.

High performance with low latency

Rakuten Symphony’s high-performance radio access system, combined with a wide range of open RU’s, delivers superior RF coverage. The system can be configured to operate both indoors and outdoors, eliminating potential RF dead zones. The system is made secure with a zero-trust architecture and the use of private SIMs, private spectrum and the ability to isolate data traffic, so it isn’t exposed to external threats.

The system offers both deterministic low latency of 15ms. This low latency is competitive with wired networks and supports all real-time applications.

Connectivity is another mandatory requirement for industrial private 5G to support IoT sensors used within a manufacturing facility. The Rakuten Private Network solution can connect up to 1 million IoT sensors per square kilometer, which supports the expansion of monitoring sensors and the use of novel IoT devices such as smart glasses and body cameras.

Total cost of ownership has been a stumbling block for enterprise private 5G networks due to high operating costs. But the Rakuten Private Network system offers advanced management and automation that enable it to autonomously detect and resolve issues before they become problems.

The power of our Celona partnership

To offer a complete solution for heavy IoT-based industrial applications, Rakuten Symphony has partnered with Celona Systems to deliver a fully managed, end-to-end open RAN-based enterprise private 5G system for Internet of Things (IoT) sensor-driven use cases.

Customers can now build a completely integrated solution that combines Rakuten Symphony’s enterprise-scale cloud-native 5G open RAN infrastructure with Celona’s 5G LAN enterprise platform. Pre-integration is a major benefit of the combined solution, enabling customers to achieve faster, more seamless deployments across use cases.

Future-proof your operations

Industrial organizations are constantly striving for better manufacturing and operations efficiency to keep their competitive edge.  This means more sensors, cameras, AMRs and other devices – all of which need to communicate. Enterprise private 5G networks are a vital foundation for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity that supports these efficiency initiatives. Through its pioneering technology and strategic partnerships, Rakuten Symphony wants to become your choice for enterprise private 5G.
Schedule a call with Rakuten Symphony today to find out how Rakuten Private Networks can bring the enterprise private 5G advantage to your organization:
symphony.rakuten.com/enterprise/private-network

symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...betting-on-enterprise-private-5g

Eindämmung der Mobilfunkverluste: Die Abonnentenzahlen bei Rakuten Mobile steigen kontinuierlich, während gleichzeitig die operativen Verluste durch eine geringere Abhängigkeit von teuren Roaming-Partnern schrumpfen.

3. Skepsis der Investoren (Warum die Aktie günstig bleibt)

Trotz starker operativer Verbesserungen verharren die Multiplikatoren (z. B. ein Kurs-Umsatz-Verhältnis von ca. 0,6x bis 0,7x) auf niedrigem Niveau.

Der Markt preist erhebliche Risiken ein, die für den Abschlag sorgen:

Hohe Schuldenlast: Durch den Netzaufbau trägt Rakuten eine erhebliche Verschuldung (Verschuldungsgrad über 5).

Ein Großteil der Cashflows muss zur Tilgung und für Zinszahlungen genutzt werden.

Keine Dividende: Aufgrund der schwachen Eigenkapitalquote schüttet Rakuten derzeit keine Dividenden aus, was einkommensorientierte Investoren abschreckt und den Kurs belastet.

Zusammenfassung: Die Aktie gilt bei Analysten als unterbewertet (+23 % bis +34 % Kurspotenzial gemessen an den durchschnittlichen Kurszielen), weil der Markt die Erholung im Mobilfunkbereich und den wahren Wert der Fintech-Sparte aufgrund der hohen Verschuldung noch nicht voll honoriert.

Quelle: Google-KI

One App. One Plan: Rakuten Viber e-Sim, powered by Rakuten Mobile

April 16, 2026

Cristina Constandache, CRO of Rakuten Viber showcases the evolution of the business since launch, its latest products and services, and gives a sneak-peek into the newest offering, Rakuten Viber eSim. Claudio Dolce, Commercial Director of Rakuten Mobile, shares insights into how Rakuten Mobile’s eSIM platform enables partners like Rakuten Viber to integrate seamless, cost-effective global connectivity directly into their apps, making staying connected while traveling simple and affordable for everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM01_zkkoHg&t=34s

“Many readers want to be able to pick up a device, see the screen, and feel it in their hands before they commit. With Kobo eReaders now available at Best Buy, more American customers can do just that,” said Michael Tamblyn, CEO, Rakuten Kobo. “But the real magic happens once they get it home. We’ve built our eReaders to be an open, distraction-free space where the reader is in control. Whether that means endless reading with Kobo Plus, browsing our beautiful bookstore, seamless library borrowing with Libby, choosing a device with physical page-turn buttons, or simply enjoying an ad-free experience, we’re focused on making sure Kobo devices work exactly the way you want them to. We’re excited to make it easier for every kind of reader to find that right fit—an avid reader who wants to carry their entire library wherever they go, or someone looking for a more affordable, convenient way to get lost in a story.”

Beyond the hardware, Kobo offers a complete digital reading ecosystem designed for book lovers. Each device provides seamless access to the Kobo Store, as well as Kobo Plus, Kobo’s all-you-can-read subscription service, support for a wide range of eBook formats, and an industry-leading experience for borrowing eBooks directly from local public libraries with Libby and OverDrive. With weeks of battery life and enough storage to hold a lifetime worth of reading, Kobo ensures that your next story is always within reach.

This retail expansion reinforces Kobo’s commitment to growing its footprint and supporting the global reading community. Whether you are a dedicated bookworm or looking for the perfect gift for a reader, the latest Kobo eReaders are now ready for pickup at a Best Buy near you.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for booklovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives.

www.kobo.com/news/...ailability-at-best-buy-stores-nationwide

Rakuten Viber launches in-app eSIM for global connectivity, advancing super app vision

RAKUTEN Viber today announced that it has introduced a seamless, in-app travel eSIM service, offering great value and instant connectivity to travelers. The first phase has rolled out in the Philippines, where Viber users can now purchase data-only roaming packages for international trips directly in the app. The service runs on Rakuten Mobile’s AI-enabled, cloud-native eSIM platform, which has a proven track record of delivering integrated travel solutions at scale.

Traveling internationally often involves expensive roaming charges. It also brings the inconvenience of purchasing and swapping physical local SIM cards. eSIMs, or embedded SIMs, are digital SIM cards built directly into mobile devices. They offer convenience and flexibility. Users can instantly choose and activate a mobile plan and switch carriers without needing a physical SIM card. With eSIM support now common on modern devices, global travel eSIM revenue is projected to grow by 380 percent from 2025 to 2030.

businessmirror.com.ph/2026/08/29/...vancing-super-app-vision/

6 Years After Being Called 'Reckless to Enter the Mobile Market'—Rakuten Group Posts 7.7 Billion Yen Profit, Where Was the Break-Even Point?

August 27, 2026

"Entering the mobile market as a latecomer will end in being crushed by heavy capital investment." When Rakuten announced itself as the fourth carrier in 2019, this was almost the unanimous view of the market.

The investments that the three incumbent companies have poured into their networks are on the scale of several trillion yen each. The logic that a newcomer chasing from zero has no chance of winning has been treated in the telecommunications industry not just as common sense, but almost as an axiom.
The Rakuten Group's financial results for the April-June quarter, announced on August 10, 2026, show a net profit of 7.7 billion yen. In the same period last year, it posted a loss of 50.9 billion yen. This is the first time in six years, since the April-June quarter of 2020, that the company has achieved a quarterly pre-tax and post-tax profit.

Why did the earnings surface while still carrying the mobile business, which has been considered the root cause of the losses? The key lies in the low-cost structure created by the complete virtualization of the network, a decision that was also called "reckless" at the time of entry.

note.com/rivas_bucho/n/n9e01660549a2?hl=en

Best First Smartphone: Why Kids Love Rakuten Mobile

mobile-contract-guide.com/en/...-mobile-en/kids-smartphone-en

The Growth Rocketship: How Rakuten Capital Masters Diplomatic Capitalism

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/...id1519302496?i=1000771227034

The Rakuten Group's financial results for the April-June quarter, announced on August 10, 2026, show a net profit of 7.7 billion yen. In the same period last year, it posted a loss of 50.9 billion yen. This is the first time in six years, since the April-June quarter of 2020, that the company has achieved a quarterly pre-tax and post-tax profit.

note.com/rivas_bucho/n/n9e01660549a2?hl=en

The 7.7 billion yen profit (attributable to parent company) are good news, but better is the step from negative 50.5 billion yen to 7.7 billion yen profit = a one-year-step of 58.6 billion yen profit (= 14.6 billion yen in the average on a quarterly base).

If this pace will continue, the net profits (attributable to parent company) of the next six quarters will be:

Q3/26: 22.3 billion yen
Q4/26: 36.9 billion yen
Q1/27: 51.5 billion yen
Q2/27: 66.1 billion yen
Q3/27: 80.7 billion yen
Q4/27: 95.3 billion yen

If we add the 4 net profits (attributable to parent company) of 2027, we get a net profit (attributable to parent company) for 2027 of 293.6 billion yen. If we divided this amount through the 2.15 billion shares = 136.56 net profit (attributable to parent company)  for a share in 2027. This are by a P/E of 15 a share price of 2048 yen – more than the 2.5-fold of today.

Meanwhile, with the support of the Japanese Government, we have worked to accelerate global Open RAN adoption to diversify the telecom supply chain and make networks more competitive and secure. Their support has allowed us to roll out initiatives in India, Ukraine, Vietnam, Kuwait, Kenya, Sri Lanka and more.

In Japan, Rakuten Mobile’s 10.75 million subscribers (as of June 2026) have enriched our ecosystem. After subscribing, they spend on average 30% more on Rakuten Card, 50% more on Rakuten Ichiba and 20% more on Rakuten Travel. Rakuten Mobile subscribers use on average 2.43 times more services than non-subscribers.

Rakuten Symphony has a major advantage – its ability to export this knowledge and expertise to support MNOs and enterprises with their transformation needs. This applies to their technology stacks, and perhaps more importantly, their business models.

As has been well documented, we are an ecosystem company that moved into telecom – many mobile operators are attempting to navigate that journey in reverse as they try to find new ways to apply their technology.

I cannot stress enough just how much of an opportunity lies in the data that telcos possess – they are sitting on a goldmine that has the potential to save many of them from becoming a utility. MNOs have more information than some of the biggest hyperscalers – the challenge for them is figuring out effective and ethical ways to glean value from it.

Rakuten is only scratching the surface when it comes to creating value from a mobile network through its ecosystem model, which understands customers based on the use of data and builds loyalty through Japan’s leading points program. We have data from roughly more than 3 trillion transactions every year – a vast amount of insight that we are turning into new value for our 45 million monthly active users.

It is only a matter of time before everyone realizes – and eventually acts upon that realization – why a fundamental change in network architecture is imperative. Connectivity is critically important, but in many ways, the mobile industry is trapped and heading in the wrong direction.

The last decade has clearly demonstrated why we cannot be complacent when it comes to the reliability of supply chains. The same principle applies to telecom. We need to redefine what a mobile network actually is.

For the health of the industry, we must encourage innovation in mobile networks – that means new technologies, more suppliers and more affordable plans for subscribers. Connectivity should be a universal right and affordable for all.

Rakuten Symphony’s technology stack is only getting better. Alongside Rakuten Mobile, it continues to mature and develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the best ways that mobile networks can be operated. Like AI models, our software, originally tried, tested and proven in Rakuten Mobile, gets better the more we learn.

rakuten.today/blog/...hange-telecom-is-greater-than-ever.html

The Walking Dead Universe channel launches on Rakuten TV in the UK

August 25, 2026

One of television’s biggest global franchises has arrived on Rakuten TV in the UK, with The Walking Dead Universe now streaming for free through a new dedicated FAST channel created in partnership with AMC Global Media – UK.

The launch brings The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead to British audiences without subscriptions, sign ups or search — offering an easy, lean back way to drop into the franchise at any time.

The channel arrives as FAST viewing continues to surge across the UK. New European research, The FAST Advantage, published by Rakuten TV, shows that more than 80% of UK viewers now consider FAST either a primary way to watch television or a viable alternative to paid streaming services. The findings underline why free, ad supported environments have become an essential part of the modern viewing mix and a powerful route for content discovery.

By launching a dedicated channel for one of the world’s most recognisable franchises, Rakuten TV demonstrates how FAST can help premium content find new audiences while deepening engagement with long time fans — reinforcing its growing role in the UK’s rapidly changing television ecosystem.

www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/08/25/...n-rakuten-tv-in-the-uk/

Rakuten Group, Inc. (hereinafter Rakuten) announced that Rakuten esports SHOP, its official online shop for streamers and VTubers supported by the company, will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026, hel At the booth, Rakuten will sell exclusive items featuring seven streamers and VTubers supported by the company.

Rakuten also plans to launch new merchandise in conjunction with Tokyo Game Show 2026.
The booth will showcase exhibits highlighting the appeal of each talent, offering a tangible shopping experience unique to in-person events.d from Thursday, September 17 to Monday, September 21, 2026.

saiganak.com/event/...rakuten-esports-shop-booth-announcement