9434

Softbank Corp

One of Japan's three major mobile network operators, this telecom arm of SoftBank Group runs the SoftBank, Y!mobile, and LINEMO phone brands used by millions of customers. Founder Masayoshi Son started the business in 1981 as a computer-software distributor, and the name "SoftBank" was meant to suggest a "bank of software" — a storehouse of knowledge for the coming information age.