Monday, May 22, 2006
SoftBank a small fry??
In my 20 years of business and work between US/Japan and EU/Japan, I am often surprised how Western executives underestimate economic size and strength of Japan and it's companies - here is another example:
BusinessWeek writes about the SoftBank/iPod phone, and writes that former Apple executives say that Apple's CEO Steve Jobs wouldn't normally tie up with a small fry like SoftBank...
Is SoftBank really a small fry? Let's check it out:
1. Apple vs SoftBank revenues
Revenues of SoftBank + SoftBank Mobile (x-Vodafone KK) were on the order of YEN 2500 Billion (US$ 22 Billion) for the year ended March 2006. Revenues of Apple Computer were US$ 13.9 Billion for the year ended Sept 24, 2005. - So in terms of revenue the new SoftBank Group (including the recently acquired x-Vodafone KK) is almost twice as large as Apple Computer.
2. Apple vs SoftBank market capitalization
Market capitalization of Apple Computer was US$ 54.9 Billion on May 19, 2006. Market capitalization of SoftBank (US$ 28 Billion) plus SoftBank Mobile Corp (US$ 15 Billion) was on the order of US$ 43 Billion.
More about Japan's telecom industry sector in our JCOMM-Report
Tags: SoftBank|Apple|iPod|Japan|wireless
BusinessWeek writes about the SoftBank/iPod phone, and writes that former Apple executives say that Apple's CEO Steve Jobs wouldn't normally tie up with a small fry like SoftBank...
Is SoftBank really a small fry? Let's check it out:
1. Apple vs SoftBank revenues
Revenues of SoftBank + SoftBank Mobile (x-Vodafone KK) were on the order of YEN 2500 Billion (US$ 22 Billion) for the year ended March 2006. Revenues of Apple Computer were US$ 13.9 Billion for the year ended Sept 24, 2005. - So in terms of revenue the new SoftBank Group (including the recently acquired x-Vodafone KK) is almost twice as large as Apple Computer.
2. Apple vs SoftBank market capitalization
Market capitalization of Apple Computer was US$ 54.9 Billion on May 19, 2006. Market capitalization of SoftBank (US$ 28 Billion) plus SoftBank Mobile Corp (US$ 15 Billion) was on the order of US$ 43 Billion.
More about Japan's telecom industry sector in our JCOMM-Report
Tags: SoftBank|Apple|iPod|Japan|wireless
