SoftBank
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese telecommunications and internet corporation, with operations in broadband
, fixed-line telecommunications, e-Commerce, Internet
, broadmedia, technology
services, finance
, media
and marketing
, and other businesses.
SoftBank was established in Tokyo, Japan on September 3, 1981, and had a market capitalization
of approximately US$43.52 billion at March 2011.
SoftBank's corporate profile includes various other companies such as Japanese broadband company Cable & Wireless IDC, cable company BB-Serve, and gaming company GungHo Online Entertainment
. Additionally, it has various partnerships in Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies such as Yahoo!
, E-Trade, Ustream.tv and Morningstar
. SBI Group
is a Japanese financial services
company that began in 1999 as a branch of SoftBank.
SoftBank was the only official carrier of the iPhone
in Japan until the release of iPhone 4S
when it became available on au by KDDI as well.
Yahoo!
holds 40.16% of Softbank stock.
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
, fixed-line telecommunications, e-Commerce, Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, broadmedia, technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
services, finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
and marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, and other businesses.
SoftBank was established in Tokyo, Japan on September 3, 1981, and had a market capitalization
Market capitalization
Market capitalization is a measurement of the value of the ownership interest that shareholders hold in a business enterprise. It is equal to the share price times the number of shares outstanding of a publicly traded company...
of approximately US$43.52 billion at March 2011.
SoftBank's corporate profile includes various other companies such as Japanese broadband company Cable & Wireless IDC, cable company BB-Serve, and gaming company GungHo Online Entertainment
GungHo Online Entertainment
GungHo Online Entertainment is a Japanese videogame corporation. They are primarily known for hosting the Japanese server of Ragnarok Online, as well as their development of Ragnarok DS for the Nintendo DS.-History:...
. Additionally, it has various partnerships in Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies such as Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
, E-Trade, Ustream.tv and Morningstar
Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is an independent investment research company based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.-Businesses:Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of products and services for...
. SBI Group
SBI Group
SBI Group is a financial services company group based in Japan. The groups's businesses and companies are held primarily at SBI Holdings, the group also operates a business school and children's charity foundation as well...
is a Japanese financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
company that began in 1999 as a branch of SoftBank.
SoftBank was the only official carrier of the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
in Japan until the release of iPhone 4S
IPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S is a touchscreen slate smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fifth generation of the iPhone, a device that combines a widescreen iPod with a touchscreen, mobile phone, and internet communicator. It retains the exterior design of its predecessor, iPhone 4, but is host to a range...
when it became available on au by KDDI as well.
Timeline
- 1995 - Bought COMDEXCOMDEXCOMDEX was a computer expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada, each November from 1979 to 2003. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world, usually second only to the German CeBIT, and by many accounts one of the largest trade shows in any industry sector...
from The Interface Group - 1999 - Allowed organizers of COMDEX to restrict admission of media, creating a spiraling effect
- 2001 - Sold COMDEX to Key3Media, a spin-off of Ziff DavisZiff DavisZiff Davis Inc. is an American publisher and Internet company. It was founded in 1927 in Chicago by William B. Ziff, Sr. and Bernard G. Davis. Throughout most of its history, it was a publisher of hobbyist magazines, often ones devoted to expensive, advertiser-rich hobbies such as cars,...
- January 28, 2005 - SoftBank becomes the owner of the Fukuoka SoftBank HawksFukuoka SoftBank HawksThe are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
, a Nippon Professional Baseball team. - March 17, 2006 - SoftBank announces its agreement to buy Vodafone JapanVodafone Japan, previously as Vodafone K.K. and J-PHONE, is the Japanese subsidiary company of mobile phone operator SoftBank.Masayoshi Son is CEO and Representative Director.-Technology:...
, giving it a stake in Japan's $78 billion mobile market. - Early April, 2006 - SoftBank completed the purchase of 23% of BetfairBetfairBetfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
, an Internet betting exchange. - October 1, 2006 - Vodafone Japan changes its corporate name, mobile phone brand name, and its mobile phone domain name to SoftBank Mobile, SoftBank, and [mb.softbank.jp] respectively.
- January 28, 2008 - It was announced that SoftBank and Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
collaborated in making a limited 10 model-only cellphone. This cellphone contains more than 400 platinum diamond, totalling more than 20 karat. The cost is said to be more than 100,000,000 yen. - June 4, 2008 - SoftBank Mobile announced partnership with Apple and brought the iPhone (3G) to Japan later in 2008
- February 3, 2010 - SoftBank acquired 13.7% in UstreamUstreamUstream is a website which consists of a network of diverse channels providing a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online. Established in March 2007, the site has over 2,000,000 registered users who generate 1,500,000+ hours of live streamed content per month with over ten...
with the option to increase shares to 30% by July 2011. - October 1, 2010 - Ayumi HamasakiAyumi Hamasakiis a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
becomes the commercial spokesperson.
Investments
| Company | Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo! Yahoo! Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,... |
November 1995 | $2 Million |
| InMobi InMobi InMobi is the largest independent mobile advertising network in the world. The company was founded in India in 2007 and has business set up in the Asia Pacific region, Africa, US, Europe, and Japan... |
September 2011 | $200 Million |
Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
holds 40.16% of Softbank stock.
External links
- SoftBank Corporation
- Masayoshi Son AXA Talents (www.axa-im-talents.com) (August 1, 2006)