The information industry in which the SOFTBANK Group's businesses operate sees a steady stream of new technologies and business models. The industry's ups and downs will likely become more pronounced going forward.

The Group seeks to provide lifestyle-changing services on a continuous basis in this fluctuating environment. The strategy the Group has adopted to achieve this is to be flexible in implementing technologies or business models and to invest in or form joint ventures with companies that have the best technologies or business models at the time, eventually forming and expanding a “strategic synergy group” focused on Asia.

Each company in the strategic synergy group will make decisions autonomously, enabling it to continue to grow while creating synergies with other group companies.

Forecasts for trends in Japan five years from now suggest the number of smartphones shipped will have increased almost five-fold, and that of tablet PC will have increased more than seven-fold*1. These trends point to a world-wide shift toward using these mobile devices as a means for accessing the Internet, in preference to PCs. The Group's strategy is to develop its businesses focused on the domain of mobile internet, which will expand in line with this change.

In line with this strategy, the Group will work to strengthen the network in the mobile communications business, provide high speed telecommunications services, and enhance its lineup of smartphones and tablet PCs. It will also provide a full array of mobile content including video, electronic books, and games.