Starting with wholesale business of software for PCs, SOFTBANK went into publishing business and exhibition hall operation. Then we moved ahead toward operations of broadband infrastructure, fixed-line telecommunications and mobile communications.
With your continuous kind support, we achieved a record high profit since our foundation for the fiscal year 2008. In addition, we are also working to put our finances on a sound footing through measures aiming at reducing net-interest bearing debt, which was accrued when we entered the mobile phone business, to zero by year 2014. However, this does not mean that our goal is to become a communications company with the No.1 revenue and profit.
We are on the way of materializing the corporate policy, ‘Endeavoring to benefit society and the economy and maximize enterprise value by fostering the sharing of wisdom and knowledge gained through the IT revolution’ which was upheld at the time of its foundation, but we have only come halfway.
What we envision is Japan and the world in 10, 50, and 100 years. SOFTBANK has an aspiration to benefit society and the economy rather than to win near-term profit competitions. We believe that this aspiration is one of the biggest reasons to keep receiving your kind support.
You may ask why SOFTBANK operates businesses of broadband infrastructure, fixed-line telecommunications and mobile communications. The answer is because we are convinced that the Internet will realize people's new lifestyles and the richer world. We want to provide all peoples of the earth with the Internet world to enjoy information and entertainment anytime, anywhere.
To become a leading company of ‘Mobile Internet’, it is necessary to bring new ideas beyond conventional telephone company's service or business models. The best way to experience this is to try iPhone™. It is more than infrastructure, more than content. New value evolves when various layers of business are combined in a tridimensional way. And this is exactly why SOFTBANK expands its business field to the various layers.
The Internet is marvelous. Communication is wonderful. We want to share this blessing widely with people around the world. And we want to make everyone in the world happy and smile. We, SOFTBANK will continue to commit ourselves to being passionate about making concerted utmost efforts to realize our aspirations. We would like to ask for your continuous kind support to us.
August 2009Masayoshi Son
Chairman and CEO
SOFTBANK CORP.
- * iPhone is a trademark of Apple.
- * The trademark “iPhone” is used with a license from Aiphone K.K.
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