NTT Docomo To Link Up With Google - Reports

NTT DoCoMo (DCM), the biggest mobile phone carrier in Japan, plans to join with Google (GOOG) to provide web-search and e-mail services on its handsets, according to reports in the Japanese press. Business daily The Nikkei reported Tuesday that by this spring, users will be able to access Google search, e-mail, scheduling and photo-saving features via DoCoMo's i-Mode Internet network. DoCoMo is also said to be weighing development of a next-generation handset using Google's free OS for mobile devices. The Nikkei did not identify its sources for the story, a similar version of which was published by the Kyodo News agency. DoCoMo spokeswoman Makiko Furuta said the company is looking at potential relationships with both domestic and foreign search service providers, but no alliances have been concluded as yet. DoCoMo is trying to stem the loss of young consumers to rivals KDDI Corp. and Softbank Mobile Corp., while Google hopes to better penetrate the Japanese search engine market, where it lags Yahoo Japan (YHOO).

Sources: AP

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