Quote:
Originally Posted by Quoth
Rakuten also do the excellent Viber for text, audio and video chat financed by Viber out calls to regular numbers, sticker market and a tiny amount of adverts in the chat lists (not in a chat). iOS, Android, Windows, Linux and MacOS. Seems private, secure and encrypted. Lacks brokenness of Skype and total privacy fail of WhatsApp.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
Rakuten also has RaketenTV for buying/renting movies online. Rakuten is a sponsor of Barcelona soccer team. And Rakuten also currently owns Overdrive.
|
You both missed my point - the average consumer in the US is either going to not know about some or all of these, or not connect them. I had no idea about Viber because I don't use it; same with RakutenTV, never heard about it anywhere. I don't follow international sports, so I wouldn't come across that. The only reason I know about them owning Overdrive is because I hang out here. And all but Overdrive are completely unconnected to ebooks / ereaders.
It doesn't matter how big or stable Rakuten is - if people in a given market don't know enough about it to inspire confidence in the brand and extend that confidence to Kobo, it won't make a difference. There is a segment of the market that will go to the Kobo website, see Rakuten, and look further, but let's be honest - a lot of people won't bother. Rakuten just isn't that recognizable as a brand for most folks.