Affiliate marketing is experiencing significant growth in November 2025, driven by increased brand adoption, a boom in e-commerce, and the rise of creator-led commerce, with the global market projected to hit $37.3 billion, accounting for approximately 16% of total e-commerce sales and demonstrating strong returns on investment for brands. Key trends include the dominance of mobile purchases, the increasing influence of AI and big data, and the strategic integration of influencers into affiliate programs.

Key Growth Metrics & Market Size (November 2025)

Global Market Value: Expected to reach $37.3 billion in 2025, a substantial increase from previous years.

E-commerce Impact: Affiliate links are projected to drive around 16% of all U.S. online orders and contribute significantly to overall online revenue.

Brand Adoption: A high percentage of brands (around 82%) now utilize affiliate marketing as a core revenue channel.

Return on Investment (ROI): Brands often see an average return of $12 for every $1 spent on affiliate marketing.

Dominant Trends Shaping Growth

Creator-Led Commerce: Influencer marketing is surging, with creator-driven affiliate revenue growing by approximately 26% year-over-year.

Mobile-First Purchases: Over 50-57% of affiliate traffic and conversions now originate from mobile devices.

AI Integration: AI is transforming affiliate marketing through AI-powered search, dynamic offers, and improved data analytics.

First-Party Data: Adaptation to a cookieless world is pushing innovation in first-party data collection and use.

Hybrid Influencer Strategies: Brands are increasingly combining paid campaigns with affiliate models to leverage both high-reach and cost-effective creators.

Key Sectors & Niches

Top Verticals: Retail/fashion, travel, telecom, and finance remain leading sectors for affiliate revenue.

Emerging Niches: Health & wellness, online education, beauty, and sustainable products continue to show high profitability.

Outlook for Affiliates

Opportunity: The industry still offers significant opportunities for new entrants to scale programs.

Challenges: Dependence on platform algorithms and increasing revenue pressures on publishers are factors to monitor.

Success Factors: Success hinges on strong content, audience trust, effective traffic generation
(especially via SEO), and smart niche selection.

https://www.google.com/...gcHMi0xMi4xMsgH5wE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
 

Rakuten Securities Surpasses 13 Million General Securities Customer Accounts, the Largest Number of Non-Consolidated Securities Accounts in Japan - Launches X follow-and-repost campaign to commemorate the 13 million milestone

Tokyo, November 5, 2025 - Rakuten Securities, Inc. today announced that its general securities accounts have surpassed 13 million, the largest number of non-consolidated securities accounts among Japanese securities companies (based on disclosed information), as of November 2025. To commemorate the 13 million account milestone, the company will launch a follow-and-repost campaign on X starting November 11, 2025.

Since launching in 1999 as the first dedicated online brokerage service in Japan, Rakuten Securities has worked to continually expand and enhance its asset-building platform with retail investors top of mind.

Since surpassing 12 million general securities customer accounts in January 2025, Rakuten Securities remains committed to expanding its products and services to meet the needs of customers from all demographics. Following the end of Japan’s negative interest rate policy and the shift to an interest-bearing environment, Rakuten Securities has actively introduced new services to support investment and asset building. These include Rakuten Money Fund, the industry's first Money Reserve Fund (MRF), which enables management with favorable yields; Securities Collateral Loans, which allow customers to obtain necessary funds while continuing to manage their holdings using financial products as collateral; and KabuPita, another industry-first that enables trading domestic stocks by specifying amounts starting from 100 yen in 1 yen increments. Additionally, the company has developed an environment for customers to visually and intuitively incorporate cutting-edge technologies, such as services leveraging AI analysis results for both U.S. and Japanese stock investments.

Moreover, recognizing the increasing focus on security measures within the securities industry in 2025, Rakuten Securities is dedicated to fostering a secure environment where customers can build assets and invest with peace of mind. This includes offering passkey authentication using FIDO2 technology across all channels including tools and apps.

Rakuten Securities aims to maximize customers’ financial well-being as the brokerage company of choice for all customers – ranging from investment newcomers to seasoned traders. The company will continue expanding its array of services to meet their diverse investment needs.

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/1105_01.html
 

"Rakuten Bank Securities Secured Loan" exceeds 10 billion yen in balance

November 4, 2025

Rakuten Bank Co., Ltd. and Rakuten Securities Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce that the balance of Rakuten Bank Securities-Backed Loans exceeded 10 billion yen at the end of October 2025.

"Rakuten Bank Securities Secured Loan" is a service that mediates the conclusion of a contract for a loan of funds for a securities-backed loan provided by Rakuten Bank by Rakuten Securities as a bank agent with Rakuten Bank as its affiliated bank. In principle, the use of funds borrowed with the "Rakuten Bank Securities Secured Loan" is free, and when the customer needs funds for each life event, etc., they can secure the necessary funds while continuing to manage their assets with Rakuten Securities. Since domestic stocks deposited as collateral are managed in the customer's name, it is possible to borrow while continuing to obtain rights as a shareholder, such as dividends and shareholder benefits. Since the launch of the service in June 2025, it has been used by many customers as a new option that can flexibly respond to diverse financial needs.

As a result of being able to raise funds at the lowest interest rate in the industry without selling the assets held by customers, and the ability to flexibly borrow from a minimum of 10,000 yen to meet customers' capital needs, and as a result of many customers using the service, the balance exceeded 10 billion yen in about four months from the launch of the service in June 2025.

Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities will provide more customers with high-value-added services that are not available in conventional digital banks and Internet securities by collaborating on services that leverage the strengths of the Rakuten Group.

https://www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/press/2025/251104-2.html
 

Get Ready for “AI-nization with U”: Rakuten Technology Conference 2025 Preview

1 day ago

Mark your calendars! Rakuten Technology Conference 2025 is set to ignite on Saturday, November 15, transforming the company’s Rakuten Crimson House Headquarters in Tokyo into a vibrant hub of innovation. This marks the 17th edition of the annual event which promises an gathering, drawing top-tier leaders, engineers, researchers, and tech enthusiasts from across the globe to collectively explore cutting edge technology through an engaging program of talks and discussions.

“AI-nization with U”: Tailoring tech to you

This year’s theme, “AI-nization with U” (AI-nization with You), captures Rakuten’s dual ambition: to deeply embed AI across its operations for accelerated growth, and to champion technology that delivers truly personalized user experiences. This vision is particularly embodied by the exciting advancements in agentic AI. The conference will be a deep dive into the transformative influence of AI and other groundbreaking technologies spanning critical domains such as cloud computing, data analytics, e-commerce innovation, financial technology (fintech) and mobile communications, pushing the boundaries of what’s currently imagined.

This year’s event also features a headlining keynote from Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO, Mickey Mikitani. His address is poised to provide a visionary framework for a day packed with forward-looking dialogue, reinforcing Rakuten’s dedication to pioneering technological advancements and ensuring AI serves as a powerful force for human betterment and enhanced productivity.

Decoding AI’s next frontier

The conference agenda is packed with an extraordinary lineup of speakers and sessions, all keenly focused on the latest in AI-driven innovation. Ting Cai, Rakuten Group Chief AI & Data Officer, will lead a pivotal session, offering fresh insights into Rakuten AI initiatives and outlining the company’s strategic blueprint for integrating agentic AI across the expansive Rakuten Ecosystem.

Another highlight will be a collaborative session featuring Taku Okoshi, Director, AI Services Supervisory Department at Rakuten, alongside Hamidou Dia, VP of Applied AI Engineering at Google LLC. They will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the future societal role of agentic AI and offer perspectives on how enterprises can most effectively leverage generative AI.

The stage will also host other distinguished figures from the global tech arena, including Tiju Johnson, Principal Architect at Cisco Systems, Inc.; Shuji Omoto, Executive Officer, Head of Cloud & AI Architect Division, Customer Success Unit at Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.; Shinji Taketsume, Senior Vice President/Executive Operating Officer, Cloud Business Unit at Oracle Corporation Japan and Toshi Yasuda, Director, Head of Japan Specialists at Amazon Web Services Japan G.K.

These external luminaries, in concert with Rakuten’s own leadership – such as Akihito Kurozumi, Group Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CIO & Group CTO, Hironori Yoshida, Executive Officer, Director, Cloud Platform Supervisory Department, Shuhei Yamamoto, General Manager, Cloud Platform Enablement Department & Data Platform Department, and Nagayasu Kano, Vice General Manager, Cyber Security Defense Department – will contribute to essential conversations shaping the contemporary technological landscape.

Cultivating innovation and community spirit

Beyond the thought-provoking speaker presentations, the prestigious Rakuten Technology Excellence Award 2025 ceremony will recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations whose pioneering technological contributions have significantly propelled societal innovation.

The Rakuten Technology Conference welcomes attendees of all ages. A specially curated “Kids Park” will offer an exciting, hands-on environment for children to interact with technology, igniting curiosity and inspiring the next generation of innovators. Attendees can also immerse themselves at an interactive Rakuten AI booth to discover the company’s latest advancements in AI.

To keep energy high throughout the day, complimentary lunch and refreshments will be served in the company cafeteria. The conference will culminate with an engaging after-party, providing a relaxed atmosphere for networking, sharing insights and fostering potential collaborations.

This event is free and open to all, presenting a unique chance to engage in cutting-edge technological discourse at Rakuten Crimson House (1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0094) or at one of the event’s satellite venues. Pre-registration is required, so make sure to sign up here. For the most current speaker lineup and the detailed event schedule, please visit the official Rakuten Technology Conference 2025 website.

https://rakuten.today/blog/...technology-conference-2025-preview.html  

By Kobo - November 06, 2025

With Kobo Web Reader, your next chapter is just a tab away

Let's face it, we all crave a little mental escape during the day-to-day. You know, those moments: the endless meeting, the slow queue, the five minutes before your next task. What if we told you that you could transform those dull stretches into exciting opportunities to sneak in a few pages (or even a chapter)?

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

A Kobo account

At least one eBook in your Kobo library

One of the following browsers on your desktop, smartphone, or tablet
Google Chrome
Firefox
Safari

That’s it! No Kobo Books App or Kobo eReader necessary to access your library.

More than just a browser tab

Your reading needs are unique, even in those short bursts. That’s why the versatile web reader works for all readers. Whether you want to enjoy a quick fiction escape to recharge your mind or leverage it for serious academic or professional research, it ensures your entire Kobo eBook library is always just a click away.

It also means you can fully engage with your books. Build and access your entire Kobo library of eBooks with ease, create bookmarks for key moments, highlight favourite passages, and even annotate your books directly on screen.

For those who love visual books, the web reader is a game-changer. It leverages the high quality of your computer screen to display illustrated books with vibrant visuals. For fans of manga and comics, or even cookbooks, this means every photo will stand out with stunning detail and vibrant color, just as they were intended.

Personalize your pages

To make reading as easy as possible for you, the web reader offers options to adjust the display to your comfort. You’ll always be in control of how you read: adjust font style and size, tweak line spacing and margins, or even change the brightness and tone. These simple yet impactful customizations empower you to create a truly comfortable and personalized reading experience every time, preventing eye fatigue and ensuring your focus remains on what matters most: reading.

Your progress, always synced

Never leave a book behind—because your reading journey moves with you. Whether on Kobo Web Reader, your eReader, or the Kobo Books App, your progress, bookmarks, annotations, and highlights automatically sync across all devices, so you’ll never lose your place. Your story is always ready, exactly where you left it.

Making every book accessible

We believe every reader deserves a comfortable experience. That's why the web reader includes Text-to-Speech. Take control over speed, language, and voice—all adjustable in the read-aloud control bar. Plus, intuitive keyboard shortcuts like Spacebar (play/pause) and Left/Right Arrows (previous/next sentence) make navigation simple and convenient. It's all about ensuring every reader finds their perfect way to engage with the stories they love, effortlessly.

Want to dive deeper into the web reader? You can learn more about Kobo Web Reader with our Help site. About Kobo Web Reader

https://www.kobo.com/blog/how-to-read-books-on-any-device-anytime

 

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Announce New EU Satellite Constellation and Select Germany for European Sovereign Satellite Operations Centre

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile announce new satellite constellation

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile select Germany for Satellite Operations Centre to further strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty.

Move follows establishment of Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Luxembourg-headquartered satellite joint venture, SatCo.

Planned EU constellation to be equipped with a "command switch" to provide European oversight and security.

AST SpaceMobile filed with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) through Germany for registration of a new mid-band satellite constellation.

November 07, 2025 AST SpaceMobile Inc, the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government application, and Vodafone Group Plc, a leading European and African telecommunications company, announce today that they have selected Germany as the location for their main Satellite Operations Centre. The centre will allocate and map satellite connectivity used by SatCo to serve mobile network operators (MNOs) across Europe to ensure ubiquitous mobile broadband in underserved areas and support emergency services and disaster relief agencies. It will be located near either Munich or Hannover, depending on final negotiations with all relevant parties.

SatCo aims to provide a scalable European satellite mobile broadband service for use by MNOs to benefit all European citizens, businesses and public sector organisations. MNOs in 21 European Union (EU) member states and other European countries have expressed interest in adopting the service, with commercial launch planned to commence from 2026.

The planned EU constellation will include a comprehensive ‘command switch’ feature to support European oversight and security. This capability supports updating all telemetry, tracking, and control (TTC) encryption keys for both S-Band (used to connect smartphones from space) and Q/V-Band (used for links between satellites and earth stations). It also allows for the modification of service encryption keys for communications across the continent, as well as manages the activation, deactivation, and direction of satellite beams in Europe.

In addition to commercial mobile broadband, the constellation will support public protection and disaster relief efforts (PPDR). It does this by providing reliable, broadband-speed connectivity from space directly to the everyday smartphones and other cellular devices of emergency responders, even in the most dangerous and challenging environments.

The planned satellite constellation can also contribute to the development of a pan-European mobile broadband system, enhancing the communication and coordination of emergency services during crises and disasters, in line with the EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) vision. In particular, the satellites will support frequency bands that are suitable for PPDR radio communications, subject to national decisions and deployment choices.

About AST SpaceMobile and Vodafone

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile’s joint efforts have already led to a series of groundbreaking achievements in direct-to-device connectivity with everyday smartphones, including:
The world's first space-based video call to an unmodified phone in Europe
The world’s first space-based 4G and 5G calls using unmodified phones
Download speeds of over 20 Mbps to unmodified phones on a 5 MHz channel
AST SpaceMobile has agreements with over 50 mobile network operators with nearly 3 billion subscribers globally. Its technology, backed by over 3,700 patent and patent-pending claims, is designed to support both government and commercial customers. The company is based in Midland, Texas with 95% vertically integrated manufacturing and nearly 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities. The next-generation Block 2 BlueBirds featuring up to 2,400 square foot communications arrays, are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird satellites in orbit today, enabling peak data transmission speeds up to 120 Mbps, supporting.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...cemobile-announce-eu-070000247.html
 

"Rakuten Edy" and "Yamazawa", a supermarket mainly in Yamagata Prefecture, can now charge bank accounts with multi-function charging machines - To commemorate the start of the service, "Rakuten Edy Gift" 1 million yen sharing campaign will be held

November 05, 2025

Yamazawa Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Yamazawa") and Rakuten Payment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Rakuten Payment") announced that from today, "Rakuten Edy" will be transferred from the bank account (Note 3) of a financial institution that supports "J-Debit" (Note 2) at the multi-function charging machines (hereinafter referred to as "charging machines") installed at 68 Yamazawa supermarkets  operated by Yamazawa, mainly in Yamagata Prefecture. We would like to inform you that you will be able to charge directly to.

With the launch of the service, users will be able to charge "Rakuten Edy" without preparing cash. In addition, there is no fee at any time, and you can easily charge it by simply inserting a cash card and entering your PIN like an ATM.

To commemorate the launch of the service, we will be holding the "Rakuten Edy Bank Account Charge Start Campaign" from November 5th (Wednesday) to November 30th (Sunday), 2025.

In this campaign, all those who charge 5,000 yen or more to Rakuten Edy from their bank account at the target financial institution at this charging machine installed at the store during the campaign period will receive a "Rakuten Edy Gift" worth 1 million yen.

Yamazawa has deepened its collaboration with the Rakuten Group by introducing the cashless payment service Rakuten Pay in December 2022, the Rakuten Point Card, a common point service, and Rakuten Edy, an IC-type electronic money, in March 2024. By adding a new charging method for "Rakuten Edy", we aim to further improve the convenience of users.

Yamazawa and Rakuten Payment will continue to strive to improve user satisfaction.

About Yamazawa Co., Ltd.  
We have 68 supermarkets in Yamagata, Miyagi, and Akita prefectures (as of November 5, 2025) to provide fresh, safe, and secure products to local residents with a focus on creating stores that are easy to shop. In addition, as one of the companies in Tohoku, we participate in various local events and actively engage in social contribution activities such as supporting education and sports for children who will lead the future and preserving the natural environment.

About Rakuten Payment Co., Ltd.
Rakuten Payment Co., Ltd. was established in April 2019 as a company within the Rakuten Group that develops services centered on payment and marketing. In the QR code payment industry of the 2nd Japan Customer Satisfaction Index Survey in FY2025, Rakuten Pay, which won the first place in "customer satisfaction" for three consecutive years for the first time in history, as well as "Rakuten Point Card", "Rakuten Check", and "Rakuten Pay" physical store payments. In addition, Rakuten Edy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Rakuten Payment Co., Ltd., operates "Rakuten Edy" and "Rakuten Cash". We provide user-friendly, convenient, and secure payment services, and merchants provide business support through a wide range of payment services tailored to industries and business types, as well as marketing programs that utilize data.

Note: This is the first time that the company has won the first place in "customer satisfaction" in the QR code payment industry of the customer satisfaction survey "JCSI" for three consecutive years (as of July 30, 2025).

https://payment.rakuten.co.jp/news/2025110500/
 

Rakuten Symphony at IMC 2025: Made in India, Proven with Japan, Ready for the World

By Dhruv Sood Global Digital Marketing Manager Rakuten Symphony

November 4, 2025

At India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, India’s largest and most influential digital technology event, Rakuten Symphony stood out as a symbol of global innovation rooted in Indian engineering excellence.

With the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior government leaders, and industry stalwarts setting a national tone of confidence, this year’s IMC underscored India’s ambition to become the “digital flag bearer of the world.”  

In a celebration of technological leadership, Rakuten Symphony’s theme: “Made in India, Proven with Japan, Ready for the World”, reflected both national pride and the company’s expanding global reach.

Driving AI-Powered Growth at IMC 2025

Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani took the center stage alongside global leaders from T-Mobile, GSMA, and the Government of India, setting a visionary tone for the event with the theme Beyond Connectivity - Democratizing the Engines of Tomorrow's Innovation.

He emphasized that the future of telecom depends on who truly owns the customer relationship and the data that drives it. In today’s competitive landscape, he noted, companies often play the dual role of partners and competitors. The true differentiator, he said, lies in how effectively data is integrated across ecosystems to create smarter, more efficient, and more connected experiences.

Elaborating further, Rakuten Symphony President Sharad Sriwastawa expanded on this vision, explaining how the company is combining artificial intelligence, automation, and its broader Rakuten ecosystem to build next-generation networks that are both intelligent and cost-efficient.

He also highlighted Rakuten’s commitment to advancing autonomous networks, targeting Level 4 and 5 automations to reduce operational complexity and enhance service reliability.  

Live 5G Demonstrations and Use Cases at IMC 2025

Rakuten Symphony’s booth at IMC was a hub of collaboration, hosting partners, customers, and industry peers in an energetic atmosphere that showcased the company’s open ecosystem approach.
Delegates witnessed Rakuten Symphony’s transformative innovations across Open RAN, enterprise and telco cloud, and OSS — built in India, validated at scale in Japan, and ready for worldwide deployment.

https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...n-with-japan-ready-for-the-world
 

Earn 15% cash back at Lululemon with Rakuten

Nov. 06, 2025

TPG staffers love using Rakuten to double dip and earn bonus rewards on purchases we were going to make anyway. We also love Lululemon. So when the two come together to offer a great deal, we have to share the news. On Nov. 8, if you use Rakuten and shop at Lululemon, you can earn 15% bonus rewards.

With the holiday season almost upon us, it's the perfect time to start buying gifts — so why not earn some bonus rewards along the way?

Here's what you need to know about this deal.

Overview of the Rakuten and Lululemon 15% bonus

Rakuten is having its Holiday Big Deal Reveal, where, starting in November, you can earn up to 23% cash back at select merchants each day for the first 10 days. Lululemon, a popular activewear brand, is part of this promotion.

On Nov. 8, Rakuten users who activate the portal and shop at Lululemon can earn 15% cash back or 15 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent, thanks to their partnership with Amex. If you opt to earn Amex points, that's a whopping 30% return based on TPG's November 2025 valuations.

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten is one of TPG's favorite online shopping portals, where you can activate a browser extension to earn bonus rewards when shopping at select retailers.

You can opt to redeem your cash back for a check mailed to you or a deposit into your PayPal account. You can also earn Amex Membership Rewards points if you link an eligible Amex card to your Rakuten account.

https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/lululemon-15-cashback/

 

A highlight of our Made in India initiatives at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 was a live, end-to-end 5G Open RAN demonstration in collaboration with Tejas Networks, culminating in a successful live 5G call. The showcase featured Tejas’ 32TR radio unit and core network seamlessly integrated with Rakuten Symphony’s distributed and central unit software, demonstrating the real-world impact of our software-centric, cloud-native architecture.

This live setup underscores how Rakuten Symphony is transforming connectivity, delivering next-generation 5G experiences through innovation and partnership.

"Through this partnership with Rakuten Symphony, we intend to combine our field-proven RAN infrastructure solutions with Rakuten’s resilient cloud native RAN software stack and orchestration solution, to provide a compelling solution to the global market."

Kumar N. Sivarajan, CTO and Co-founder, Tejas Networks
Building on these demonstrations, Rakuten Symphony also showcased a Made in India solution with our partner Polystack: a data center–in-a-box powered by the Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform. This setup highlighted how modular, scalable infrastructure can redefine the way operators and enterprises deploy and manage networks, complementing our broader vision for next-generation connectivity.
"With Rakuten Symphony, we are now enabling public and private organizations to securely adopt next-generation cloud and AI technologies, with solutions built and supported in India."

Pawan Verma, Co-Founder & CEO, Polystack Technologies.
We were delighted to host at our booth Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone Idea, Jio, Powergrid, SLT Mobitel, Airport Authority of India, C-DOT, and Orange, along with our partners — Intel, Dell, HCL, TCS, Cisco, NEC, Polystack, MTI, AMD, and Tejas. Throughout the conference, our experts engaged with attendees and shared insights on how Rakuten Symphony is driving the next wave of intelligent connectivity.


 

You can now earn Bilt Rewards points when shopping online through Rakuten

Nov. 06, 2025

https://thepointsguy.com/news/earn-bilt-points-rakuten/

 

Rakuten Viber all out in announcing Rufa Mae Quinto as PHL brand ambassador

November 8, 2025

She’s funny, sexy, and the woman behind the famous catchphrases “Todo na ‘to!” and “Go, go, go!” Now, Rufa Mae Quinto brings her energetic and positive vibes into everyday work conversations with Rakuten Viber signing her as its newest brand ambassador.

As a fitting welcome, the global communication app drops the launch video marking Rufa Mae’s debut as the brand’s newest ambassador reminding subscribers, particularly the new generation of young working professionals: “Life is not always serious, keep it todo with Viber! GO, GO, GO!” Rakuten Viber also has a bunch of fun promotions and features lined up inspired by the well-loved comedian and actress.

To start off her ambassador duties, Rufa Mae is lending her recognizable voice and trademark extended delivery of words to an exclusive audio sticker pack. Imagine replying to messages with stickers of her saying “Kaya todayyy?”, “Nooooted,” and of course: “Go go gooo!” They’re sure to bring some much-needed comic relief to an otherwise stressful workday. That’s exactly why Rakuten Viber chose Rufa Mae. In the seriousness of life, injecting appropriately timed light-hearted humor is both appreciated and a necessity to help us get through the day. Sometimes a good laugh is not a distraction but a part of getting things done.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/11/08/...-as-phl-brand-ambassador/
 

Rakuten Review (2025): Is it Still the GOLD Standard?

June 24.06.2025  

Are you wondering if Rakuten’s cashback platform is still worth it in 2025? Well in this video, we’ll be revisiting the service to see what’s new and answer that question.

It’s now been quite a while since I looked at the popular shopping portal Rakuten. In that time, the tool has not only managed to remain one of the top options but has also added some features. With that, let’s take a look at what Rakuten has to offer in 2025 and why I still recommend it.

The first thing to know about Rakuten is that offers cashback from a number of brands as well as other easy to use tools you can employ while shopping online.

If you’re completely unfamiliar with Rakuten, the basic idea is that you join their platform and use their links for select retailers in order to earn cash back. As you may or may not have figured out, these links are affiliate links, meaning that Rakuten gets a commission on the transaction, but passes on at least a portion of that profit to you.

After signing up for the service, there are a few different ways to earn. First, you can go to the Rakuten site, search for the retailer you want, and then shop using the provided link. Another option is to install the Rakuten browser extension. When you do this, upon landing at an eligible site, you’ll be able to see the current cashback rate and activate the deal from there. Either way, you can then track your eligible transactions under shopping trips.

Something to watch out for is that there may be some exceptions to the stated cashback rate or varying rates per department. Because of this, you may want to check the fine print.

Finally, in recent years, Rakuten has also expanded its in-store offers. Looking in my area, I can activate deals from CVS, Valvoline, and Petco as well as several local restaurants. For these deals, you’ll need to activate the offer and then used a link credit card to complete your transaction.

Next, while some cashback rates on Rakuten remain fairly steady, others change regularly and can climb much higher during special promotions.

One of the things about Rakuten is that it’s not always easy to know how much cashback you might earn on a given day. That’s because the site has been known to host a variety of promotions that feature increased rates for select retailers. This could mean double, triple, or even higher multipliers on regular rates or other types of offers such as 11% back across a slate of options. Of course, while these deals are a good thing overall, it can also lead to frustration if you make a purchase right before an enhanced rate kicks in. So, if you really want to maximize your rewards, then perhaps its worth holding off on buying something until a good offer comes along.

If you’re an American Express customer with an eligible card, you can opt to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cashback.

A few years back, Rakuten rolled out the option to earn Amex MR points rather than cash. Yet, it was a mere few weeks ago that they finally updated their UI to reflect rates in terms points, including puting 3x instead of 3%.   When its payout time, your Rakuten MR points will be sent to your Amex account.

Personally, I’ve had this option enabled for years now and I think it’s a good deal, provided that you intend to your your Amex MR points for travel — and specifically via transfer partners. However, since Amex points only redeem at a value of 0.6¢ each for statement credits, if you do plan to turn them into cash, you’re much better off sticking with Rakuten’s standard cashback setting.

One minor downside of Rakuten is that the site only pays out earn funds on a quarterly basis.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Rakuten, it may be a while before you see your rewards. That’s because the site only sends payout every three months. Specifically, this happens on the 15th of February, may, august, and november. On top of that, you’ll need to have at least $5 in your account in order to earn a payout. Otherwise, you’ll balance will rollover.

While a check is still an option for payment, I’ve found that an easier way is to link your PayPal account. Or, as mentioned, those who select to earn Amex MR points will have their rewards automatically transferred to their account.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWDg9L0Ormc&t=68s
 

November 6, 2025

Rakuten is offering a bonus of $150 or 15,000 Amex Points when you open a new Kraken account. You can possibly get an extra $75 if you add a referral code after clicking through Rakuten and creating your account.

Cash Back is only available for first time customers in the US who complete a trade of $200 or more in their first 30 days after signing up. Cash Back will be automatically added to your Rakuten account within a few months. You can see the offer here.

Kraken is a popular cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to buy, sell, and trade digital assets. Kraken does not offer services to residents of New York (NY), and Maine (ME).
If you don’t have a Rakuten account, you can also earn a bonus of $50 or 5,000 Amex Points when you sign up now.

https://dannydealguru.com/...fering-150-bonus-for-new-kraken-account/
 

Turn Your Rakuten Cash Back into Bilt Points: Shop at Thousands of Stores with Rakuten to Unlock More Rewards

NEW YORK, November 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Holiday shoppers, get ready: Bilt and Rakuten just launched a powerful new partnership that starts TODAY, letting over 5 million Bilt Members redeem Cash Back rewards from Rakuten for Bilt Points just by shopping at thousands of stores. This incredible partnership arrives perfectly timed for Black Friday and the biggest shopping season of the year, so that you can earn rewards on every holiday purchase from more than 3,500 retailers.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...ch-partnership-power-142400428.html
 

From automation to autonomy: Telecom’s big leap

By Udai Kanukolanu, Global Head of Sales, Rakuten Symphony

November 6, 2025

Remember when “automation” was the big flex in telecom? If you were automating provisioning or ticketing, you were the cool kid at the standards table. Fast forward to 2025, and bragging about automation is like pulling out a BlackBerry at a 5G hackathon. Nostalgic, but not exactly where the future is headed.

The truth is automation did its job – it made processes faster, more repeatable, less error-prone. But there was always a need for it to be more. Scripts still needed fine-combing, workflows still broke at 2 a.m., and scaling seamlessly was extremely difficult.

Autonomy is the grown-up sibling. And it’s not just a word swap. It’s about building networks that can learn, adapt and heal themselves. Not because some consultant wrote a workflow, but because the network itself decides what’s best – and does it without asking permission.

Why automation isn’t enough anymore

Let’s dive a bit deeper.

Essentially, automation thrives in simple and complicated systems where behavior is predictable, repeatable, and rule-based. If you can write a playbook, automation can follow it. That’s why it worked well for provisioning, ticketing or routine fault management.

But telecom networks aren’t just complicated anymore; they’re complex. No rulebook truly applies. Today’s networks are a hairball of cloud, RAN, core, NTN, slicing, and private networks – all expected to deliver flawless QoS at real-time speed.

That’s why automation, which started with tasks, gradually expanded into processes, and is now shifting toward independent decision-making (autonomy). The next wave isn’t about telling machines what to do, but teaching them why – and letting them pick the best course of action.

That requires trust. For autonomy to succeed, transparency, explainability and reversibility aren’t “nice to haves.” They’re survival traits. If an AI agent changes a thousand parameters overnight, the CTO needs logs, reasoning and rollback. And accountability. Otherwise, you’re not running a network – you’re running a lottery.

What autonomy actually looks like

Autonomy is the systematic layering of AI, SMO (Service Management & Orchestration), and apps (rApps/xApps/dApps) that abstract complexity while keeping the network open and intent-driven. It doesn’t run on rules; it runs on principles, policies, and guardrails. It operates through observation, feedback, adaptation, and continuous learning.

It doesn’t ask “What should I do if X happens?” It asks “What’s the best decision in this new, never-seen-before situation?”

Think of SMO as the Netflix of networks. In the past, launching a new service was like making a movie – big budget, multi-year production, closed distribution. With open SMO and rApps, anyone can launch innovation into the ecosystem. If it works, it scales. If it fails, it fails fast.

This shift also dissolves silos. Engineers don’t need to become coders; AI does the heavy lifting. An RF engineer would simply describe their troubleshooting steps in natural language, and an AI-powered platform would turn that into a reusable playbook. That’s autonomy in action. Here domain knowledge is amplified, not replaced.

But what about ownership and accountability?

The cultural and organizational shift

Here’s the uncomfortable bit: technology is the easy part. Culture is hard.

Autonomy demands moving from “command and control” to “collaboration and trust.” It means ops teams that accept that closed-loop automation can act without human approval. It means governance models that balance speed with accountability. And it means reskilling: AI literacy for engineers, not just data scientists.

To quote my colleague Geoff Hollingworth, telco has a bad habit of chasing shiny objects – rebranding the same ideas every six months while startups die in the long procurement cycle. If we keep moving the goalposts, autonomy will remain a slide deck, not a reality.

How Rakuten Symphony sees it

Rakuten didn’t stumble into autonomy – it was designed in. From day zero, our networks were cloud-native, disaggregated and open. Autonomy isn’t a “future roadmap” bolted on top; it’s the logical outcome of the architecture we already run at scale.

Our approach boils down to three pillars:

People, process, tools – in that order. Technology is ready, but without embedding automation opportunities into incident reviews, change  management, and release cycles, it never sticks.
Openness as the new standardization. Forget waiting 10 years for standards. Openness – APIs, marketplaces, ecosystem participation – is the faster path.

KPIs that matter. Time-to-value of automation, reusability of modules, trust metrics (logs, reversibility, security). These define progress toward autonomy, not vanity slides about “level 3.5 autonomous.”
And we’re clear on the business case: autonomy isn’t just cost optimization. It’s the only way to monetize at the speed of enterprises who demand customized, runtime-configured services – not static catalogs.

The punchline

Automation was yesterday’s news. Autonomy is the present and future. But only if we recognize the fundamental shift:

Automation solves the predictable.
Autonomy navigates the unpredictable.

Because the telcos who will ace the race to autonomy will not be the ones celebrating workflow scripts; they’re the ones building networks that never sleep, never silo and never wait for a manual approval to do the right thing.

To put it less politely: if you’re still running your network on “automation milestones” in 2025, you’re driving with cruise control in a world that’s moving to self-driving cars.

https://symphony.rakuten.com/blog/...on-to-autonomy-telecoms-big-leap

 

Rakuten Mobile expands unlimited mobile data with Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT plan

Monday, 6th October, 2025

Rakuten Mobile announced the launch of Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT on the Rakuten Mobile official website and at Rakuten Mobile stores starting at 6 p.m. on October 1, 2025.

To commemorate the launch of the new plan, subscribers who sign up between October 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, will be able to access Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT at a promotional rate of 2,980 yen per month (3,278 yen including tax) throughout the campaign period.

In recent years, rising electricity rates, procurement costs and labor expenses have contributed to increased mobile fees, placing an ever-greater burden on household budgets due to inflation. In light of this situation, Rakuten Mobile remains committed to supporting customers’ daily life by continuing to provide low-cost, unlimited service.

Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT offers subscribers unlimited mobile data and unlimited access to U-NEXT's vast content library for a monthly fee of 3,980 yen (4,378 yen including tax). This includes video content such as sports, movies, dramas and live music, as well as digital publications like magazines and children's books, all without data restrictions. Additionally, several matches from the U-NEXT Soccer Pack are available monthly at no extra charge.

U-NEXT accounts can also be shared by up to four users at no extra charge, ensuring each family member can access their favorite content. Customers can unlock even greater savings through Rakuten Mobile's popular programs, including the Saikyo Family Program, Saikyo Youth Program, Saikyo Kids Program and Saikyo Senior Program.

To mark the arrival of the new plan, Rakuten Mobile is launching the Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT Start-Dash campaign as well as Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT Switch campaign exclusively for U-NEXT subscribers.
Rakuten Mobile will continue its efforts to improve network quality and deliver even more convenient services to all customers.

Campaign Overview:
1. Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT Start-Dash Campaign
Entry Period:
Rakuten Mobile official site: From 6:00 a.m. on October 1, 2025 to 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2026 (JST)
Rakuten Mobile stores: From October 1, 2025 (from the respective store opening hours) to January 31, 2026 (until the respective store closing hours)
Overview:
Customers who subscribe to Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT during the designated campaign period will be eligible for a promotional monthly rate of 2,980 yen (3,278 yen including tax).
2. Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT Switch Campaign (U-NEXT Subscribers Only)
Entry Period:
Rakuten Mobile official site: 6:00 a.m. on October 1, 2025 (JST)
Rakuten Mobile stores: October 1, 2025 (from the respective store opening hours)
Overview:
Customers switching from the U-NEXT monthly plan to Rakuten Saikyo U-NEXT will be awarded 2,189 Rakuten Points.

https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=107695


 

AST SpaceMobile Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model estimates AST SpaceMobile’s intrinsic value by projecting the company’s future cash flows and discounting them back to today’s dollars. This approach helps determine what the business is truly worth, based on its ability to generate cash over time.

AST SpaceMobile’s current Free Cash Flow is negative, sitting at around $-483 Million. Analyst forecasts anticipate a significant turnaround, with Free Cash Flow projected to climb to $766.6 Million by 2029. Further projections, extrapolated by Simply Wall St beyond the analyst estimates, suggest that cash flows could exceed $4.3 Billion by 2035. This reflects aggressive assumptions for growth and improving financial health.

Using the DCF method, AST SpaceMobile’s estimated intrinsic value comes in at $195.17 per share. This represents a 64.8% discount compared to its current trading price, pointing to strong undervaluation based on these future cash flow projections.

Result: UNDERVALUED

Our Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis suggests AST SpaceMobile is undervalued by 64.8%.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/...bile-major-satellite-192501523.html
 

Rakuten and HP Japan to Bring Rakuten AI to HP PCs - Collaboration brings agentic AI with on-device, offline and online LLM capabilities to HP customers across Japan

Tokyo, November 11, 2025 – Rakuten Group, Inc. and HP Japan Inc. today announced their intent to integrate Rakuten AI on-device capabilities to HP PCs across Japan. Rakuten AI is a next-generation agentic AI platform designed to enhance productivity, support smarter decision-making and enable intuitive human-AI collaboration. This is the first time that Rakuten AI will be available for use offline and online with an on-device Rakuten large language model (LLM).

The companies plan to combine cloud and on-device agents to deliver a highly responsive, dependable and private user experience. The desktop version of Rakuten AI will run Rakuten’s efficient, Japanese-optimized LLMs on HP devices, enabling private and sensitive tasks to run locally. This hybrid approach leverages intelligent routing to determine which agent and model to use whether on the cloud, edge or device. Users benefit from seamless continuity offline while minimizing cloud reliance to achieve improved performance and meaningful cost savings.

With Rakuten’s innovative agentic AI, HP Japan customers will gain access to a full spectrum of capabilities1. In addition to general-purpose agents such as summarization, writing and translation, Rakuten offers specialized transactional agents that seamlessly guide users from intent to decision, helping them complete everyday tasks like shopping, booking travel and managing finances.

Rakuten AI acts as a gateway to over 70 Rakuten Ecosystem services and enhances daily life in Japan with language and cultural optimization while fully complying with national privacy and data security laws. Users can leverage Rakuten AI for a seamless, orchestrated experience that boosts productivity, safeguards sensitive data, and empowers creativity-online or offline.

Ting Cai, Rakuten Group Chief AI & Data Officer, stated, “This milestone collaboration with HP, a global technology leader, will empower users with enriching experiences and help to accelerate AI adoption in Japan. By integrating Rakuten AI into HP PCs, we aim to leverage intelligent routing to make powerful agentic AI accessible and useful, enabling seamless human-AI collaboration and a more intuitive user experience that enhances how people work, create and connect.”

“This joint effort demonstrates HP’s commitment to hybrid AI—bringing together powerful on-device AI with cloud-based AI to deliver practical value for customers,” said Nobuki Okado, Managing Director of HP Japan. “Together, we are providing a more secure, cost-efficient and intelligent AI experience. We are excited to deliver intuitive, personalized, agentic capabilities powered by Rakuten AI on HP PCs.”
By combining their respective strengths, Rakuten and HP Japan intend to create new value for customers with AI-powered devices and solutions. This collaboration reflects an important shift in Japan’s PC market toward practical and intelligent agentic AI devices that redefine how people work, create and connect.

From Spring to Summer 2026, the two companies plan to make Rakuten AI available pre-bundled on HP’s consumer and commercial devices in Japan.

About Rakuten AI desktop version
The desktop version of Rakuten AI, developed by Rakuten and designed for AI PCs, is powered by Rakuten’s efficient, Japanese-optimized large language models (LLMs) integrated directly into devices. Its hybrid offline and online usage model offers privacy by running sensitive AI tasks directly on local devices, significantly reducing cloud dependency and associated costs. The Rakuten AI platform provides specialized agents and seamless access to the Rakuten Ecosystem, enhancing productivity and daily life for users.

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/1111_01.html
 

https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2025/1113_01.html  

Robust performance in Q3 2025

Key Takeaways
Rakuten’s consolidated revenue rose by 10.9% year-over-year.
Non-GAAP operating income saw a substantial 212.8% increase.
AI and mobile services are key growth drivers.
Rakuten aims for 10 million mobile subscribers by the end of 2025.

Company Performance
Rakuten demonstrated robust performance in Q3 2025, marking its 12th consecutive quarter of positive revenue and profit growth. The company has effectively leveraged its diverse business segments, including Internet Services, FinTech, and Mobile, to drive revenue increases. In particular, the FinTech segment grew by 20.3%, underscoring its importance to Rakuten’s overall strategy. The company’s focus on AI integration across its ecosystem further positions it for future growth.

Financial Highlights
Consolidated revenue: JPY 628.6 billion (+10.9% YoY)
Non-GAAP operating income: JPY 38.6 billion (+212.8% YoY)
EBITDA: JPY 118.7 billion (+28.8% YoY)
Internet Services revenue: JPY 349.6 billion (+11.1% YoY)
FinTech revenue: JPY 250.5 billion (+20.3% YoY)
Mobile revenue: JPY 118.7 billion (+12% YoY)

Outlook & Guidance
Rakuten is optimistic about its future prospects, targeting 10 million mobile subscribers by the end of 2025. The company also aims to achieve full-year profitability in operating income and expects to surpass JPY 400 billion in EBITDA for the full year. Continued development of its AI platform and expansion of its ecosystem remain key strategic priorities.

https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/...-surges-14-93CH-4354049




 

Ting Cai, Chief AI and Data Officer, emphasized Rakuten’s ambition to become a leading AI empowerment company, stating, "Rakuten has a golden opportunity to become the world’s leading AI empowerment company." CFO Hirose highlighted the company’s commitment to financial improvement and market dialogue, noting, "We will continue to work diligently on financial improvement and deepen dialogue with the market."

https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/...-surges-14-93CH-4354049
 

Despite a one-time impairment loss of JPY 28 billion on the online supermarket business in the third quarter, Rakuten's operating profit surged to JPY 8 billion from JPY 500 million last year, on strong growth in financial technology revenue and improvement in mobile losses.  

because the dip of today is a joke.  

Rakuten: Q3 Beat And Positive Corporate Developments Draw Attention

Nov. 14, 2025

Summary

I maintain a "Buy" rating for Rakuten after analyzing the company's third quarter financials and its latest corporate moves.

The group's operating profit jumped by 213% YoY in 3Q2025, with all three divisions contributing to the strong results.

My view of RKUNY's collaboration with HP and the potential IPO of its card business is favorable.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/...orate-developments-draw-attention