GMO Internet
GMO Internet, Inc. (abbreviation: GMO Internet) is an Internet company which is listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[1] It is also the holding company of GMO Internet Group. The head office is located at Cerulean Tower in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
Public | |
Traded as | 9449 (TYO) |
Industry | Information and Communication |
Founded | 24 May 1991 |
Founder | Masatoshi Kumagai |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Internet Infrastructure (Domain Registrar, Domain Registry, Hosting & Cloud, Security, Payment, E-commerce Solutions, ISP), Online Advertising & Media, Internet Financial Services (FX Trading, Securities Trading), Mobile Entertainment, Cryptocurrency (Exchange, Mining) |
Revenue | JPY154 billion (2017) |
JPY8.0 billion (2017) | |
Number of employees | 5,454 (2018) |
Website | https://www.gmo.jp/en/ |
Overview
While GMO Internet is mainly engaged in the Internet infrastructure business, it also runs other businesses such as online advertising & media, Internet financial services, mobile entertainment, and cryptocurrency.[2] It is a market leader for domain names and web hosting services in Japan.[3] GMO Internet has 9 listed companies, including the head office itself.[4] The company operates under the corporate slogan of "Internet for Everyone" and offers employee benefits such as a 24-hour staff canteen which provides free meals, childcare facilities, and so on. Furthermore, some employees also have the option to receive their salaries in bitcoin.[5]
Predecessor
The predecessor, Voice Media Inc. was established by Masatoshi Kumagai in May 1991. The multi-media company changed its name to interQ in 1995 and shifted its focus to the provision of Internet and service infrastructure.[6] Kumagai is now among the wealthiest in Japan with an estimated net worth of more than $1 billion as of June 2020.[7]
Business Segments
- Domain registration (Onamae.com, Muu Muu Domain, VALUE DOMAIN, Z.com, etc.)
- Web hosting (Onamae.com rental server, GMO Cloud Public, LOLIPOP!, XREA, CORE SERVER.JP, etc.)
- Internet service provider (InterQ, ZERO, Bekkoame, GMO toku toku BB, etc.)
- SSL security (GMO GlobalSign: The "GlobalSign" brand has become a recognized global brand for SSL certification.)
- Payment service (GMO Payment Gateway, GMO Epsilon, etc.)
- Online trading (GMO CLICK Securities, FXPRIME by GMO, etc.)
- Online media (Kumapon, 9199.jp, JWord, freeml, JUGEM, etc.)
- Online search(infoQ)
- Mobile entertainment (GMO GameCenter, GMO Gamepot)
- Cryptocurrency (GMO Coin)
Group Companies[8]
GMO Internet has a total of 106 companies worldwide, including 9 listed companies.[4] Some of the more prominent companies are as follows.
Internet Infrastructure
- GMO Internet, Inc. (TYO: 9449)
- GMO Cloud K.K. (TYO: 3788)
- GMO Payment Gateway, Inc. (TYO: 3769)
- GMO Epsilon, Inc.
- GMO Pepabo, Inc. (TYO: 3633)
- GMO GlobalSign NV.
- GMO-Z.com USA Inc.
- GMO DigiRock
- GMO Brights Consulting Inc.
Advertising & Media
- GMO AD Partners Inc. (TYO: 4784)
- GMO AD Marketing Inc.
- GMO Media, Inc. (TYO: 6180)
- GMO INSIGHT INC.
- GMO NIKKO.
- GMO NIKKO AD CAMP.
- GMO UniteX Inc.
- GMO PlayAd Inc.
- GMO TECH, Inc. (TYO: 6026)
- Shift-One, Inc.
- GMO Creators Network, Inc.
- GMO Kumapon Inc.
- GMO SOLUTIONPARTNER Inc.
- GMO digitallab, Inc.
- GMO MAKESHOP Co. Ltd.
- GMO Media Inc.
- GMO Research, Inc. (TYO: 3695)
Internet Financial Services
- GMO CLICK Securities, Inc.
- GMO Financial Holdings, Inc. (TYO: 7177)
- FX PRIME by GMO Corporation
Cryptocurrency
- GMO-Z.com Switzerland AG
Others
Z.com
In 2014, GMO Internet made headlines when it bought the Z.com domain name from Nissan for US$6.8 million.[9] It was mentioned in their press release that Z.com was acquired to spearhead GMO Internet Group's global growth strategy and provide the group with a powerful tool to build a strong global brand.[10]
References
- "JPX-Nikkei400 / JPX-Nikkei Mid Small | Japan Exchange Group". Japan Exchange Group. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- "Corporate Outline | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Corporate Outline | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- "GMO Internet Group Profile" (PDF). GMO Internet Group. March 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- "GMO Internet to start paying its employees' salaries partially in bitcoin". The Japan Times Online. 2017-12-15. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- "Corporate Historys | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Corporate Historys | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
- Leung, Ruby. "Former High School Dropout Becomes Billionaire As Japan's Internet Usage Soars". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- "Group Companies | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Group Companies | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- "Japanese Internet Services Provider, GMO Internet Acquires Z.com for JPY800 million". GMO Internet News | GMO Internet, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-29.