DoCoMo and Partners eBook Store

As noted over the last few months, details for the new DoCoMo bookstore launching in 2011 were just announced http://bit.ly/fRiIkd

See previously noted: http://wirelesswatch.jp/2010/08/04/docomo-joins-dnp-for-e-book-store/

DNP, DOCOMO and CHI Group to Establish Hybrid Bookstore

TOKYO, JAPAN, December 7, 2010 — Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), NTT DOCOMO, INC. and CHI Group Co., Ltd. (CHI) announced today an agreement to establish on December 21 a joint-venture firm named 2Dfacto, Inc. that will begin selling electronic books online from early January 2011. Thereafter, they further aim to establish 2Dfacto as a brand-new type of fully integrated digital/physical hybrid bookstore to sell electronic and printed books within 2011.

The joint venture is the outcome of an earlier agreement between DOCOMO and DNP to partner in electronic publishing and retail, which was announced in August. For the new company, DNP will invest 51%, DOCOMO 40% and CHI 9%. Paid-in capital will total 980 million yen (US$11.6 million).

2Dfacto’s system will be based on “honto,” DNP’s existing online bookstore for electronic books, and will be enhanced with mobile data-distribution and payment systems from DOCOMO. Under the plan, honto’s existing customers will be transitioned to 2Dfacto at the startup of e-book sales in early January 2011. At launch, customers will be able to purchase e-books online, including with seven of the latest mobile devices offered by DOCOMO: Xperia, GALAXY S, REGZA Phone, LYNX 3D, Optimus chat, GALAXY Tab and SH-07C. Eventually, 2Dfacto plans to offer some 100,000 titles from about 200 providers, including major publishers, in a variety of e-book formats.

The three partners will continue ongoing discussions aimed at expanding 2Dfacto’s business scope within 2011 through the integration of “bk1,” an existing online bookstore for printed books that is operated by CHI, a DNP group company. Thereafter, 2Dfacto will be additionally linked with physical bookstore chains in the DNP group, including Maruzen, JUNKUDO and Bunkyodo, resulting in a truly digital/physical hybrid bookstore network.

2Dfacto will build and operate an open electronic platform to distribute e-books through its digital/physical hybrid bookstore. The joint venture also will develop integrated marketing and promotion initiatives that take advantage of the company’s interlocked network of online and physical bookstores.