Sony, NTT DoCoMo to Form Joint Venture

Sony Corp and NTT DoCoMo Inc jointly announced on Oct 27 that they have agreed to form a joint venture company to develop new services based on mobile phones equipped with Sony’s contactless IC Card technology called FeliCa. The joint venture, to be called FeliCa Networks Inc, is targeted for establishment in January 2004.

The joint venture will develop the technology for a new IC chip, tentatively named “mobile FeliCa IC,” that will integrate mobile phones with the FeliCa technology. The joint venture will then implement production and sales licensing agreements with chip manufacturers, and work to create a platform whereby content providers can offer mobile services that feature both flexibility and security. The mobile FeliCa IC and service platform will be developed in an open environment and provided to the widest possible range of mobile telecommunications operators and content providers.

Through this platform, customers will be able to use their mobile phones to enjoy services previously only available with IC cards, such as transport system payments, electronic money and personal ID security. In addition, use of the telecom infrastructure for mobile phones will also enable new capabilities, such as the direct downloading of value and additional content-based data. Potential applications of the technology could include electronic ticketing and online credit, which would provide convenience and added value for both providers and customers. Continue >>