Japan's NTT DoCoMo is considering a tie-up with Google, adopting the Web giant's search and e-mail features in its mobile phone Internet service, company sources said on Tuesday.
The move marks a strategic shift for
For Google, the alliance will provide access to DoCoMo's 48 million users of "i-mode" mobile phone Internet service as it tries to expand its presence in Japan, where Yahoo Japan leads the Web search market.
The alliance may eventually lead to the development of new functions and handsets, the sources said.
"We are currently studying the possibility of an alliance in search services with domestic or overseas partners, but nothing has been decided yet," DoCoMo spokesman Hiroto Nakagawa said.
Starting as early as spring, users will be able to access Google searches, e-mail, scheduling and photo-saving features through DoCoMo's i-mode network service, the Nikkei business daily said.
While rival KDDI has already been working with Google in search and e-mail on its mobile phones, DoCoMo eyes deeper ties in services and technology with the U.S. firm, including development of next generation handset featuring Google's operating system, the Nikkei said.
In a note to clients, Nomura Securities analyst Daisaku Masuno said DoCoMo's move is expected to boost the firm's data traffic revenue as expansion in services should increase page views.
DoCoMo, which controls over half of Japan's mobile market, has been losing its market share amid a fierce price war.
Softbank, the smallest carrier, signed up a net 191,600 additional subscribers in November, beating its rivals for the seventh straight month. DoCoMo got the smallest number of net users among the three, with 48,200.©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. CNET , CNET.com , and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CNET Networks, Inc. Used by permission.
