TOKYO, JAPAN, February 9, 2006 --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it has agreed with Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) on a business tie-up to develop content and related services that combine mobile communications and conventional TV programs.
Under the agreement, the companies will form a seven-year limited liability partnership, D.N. dream partners LLP, on April 3, 2006 (tentative), with DoCoMo investing five billion yen and NTV five billion yen. The partnership will invest in content and also develop content itself, including TV programs that can be viewed with mobile phones.
In addition, the two companies will jointly study new business opportunities, including a service that combines so-called "One-segment" terrestrial digital broadcasting that will begin in Japan this spring, and i-mode™ services, as well as content developed by NTV for DoCoMo's conventional services such as V-Live™ video streaming and i-motion™ video clip distribution services. NTV entertainment events with special activities for users of "Osaifu-Keitai" phones equipped with IC chips are also planned.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company, serving more than 50 million customers. The company offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode™ which provides e-mail and Internet access to over 45 million subscribers as the world's most popular mobile Internet service, and FOMA™, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on
W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe,
North America and Asia, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in
Asia-Pacific and Europe.
NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and
New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit
www.docomo.ne.jp/english.
i-mode, V-Live, i-motion and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.
"Osaifu-Keitai" refers to mobile phones equipped with a contactless IC card for useful online functions/services such as electronic money, credit card payments, electronic ticketing, memberships, and more.
