GMO Internet

GMO Internet, Inc. (abbreviation: GMO Internet) is an Internet company which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.[1] It is also the holding company of GMO Internet Group. The head office is located in Cerulean Tower in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.

GMO Internet, Inc.
TypePublic
9449 (TYO)
IndustryInformation and Communication
Founded24 May 1991
FounderMasatoshi Kumagai
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
ProductsInternet 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)
RevenueJPY154 billion (2017)
JPY8.0 billion (2017)
Number of employees
5,454 (2018)
Websitehttps://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

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

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
  1. "JPX-Nikkei400 / JPX-Nikkei Mid Small | Japan Exchange Group". Japan Exchange Group. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  2. "Corporate Outline | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  3. "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  4. "GMO Internet Group Profile" (PDF). GMO Internet Group. March 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  5. "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.
  6. "Corporate Historys | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Retrieved 2018-08-28.
  7. Leung, Ruby. "Former High School Dropout Becomes Billionaire As Japan's Internet Usage Soars". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  8. "Group Companies | Corporate Profile | GMO Internet, Inc". Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  9. "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  10. "Japanese Internet Services Provider, GMO Internet Acquires Z.com for JPY800 million". GMO Internet News | GMO Internet, Inc. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
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