Google is providing its search engine and advertising to cell phones in Japan.
The tech giant announced on Thursday that it is working with KDDI, the country's second-largest mobile-service provider after NTT DoCoMo, to provide search service for mobile phone users in the Japanese market as of July. KDDI has more than 22 million mobile phone users, less than half of DoCoMo's, but its Au brand service is more popular among young Japanese because of services like music downloads.
Earlier this month, DoCoMo partnered with Microsoft to adopt Windows Media technology for its handsets, allowing DoCoMo's users to play music obtained through downloads or ripped from CDs.
Also on Thursday, Softbank announced that it will form a joint venture with Vodafone Group to succeed Vodafone's Japanese operation, which Softbank in March agreed to buy. Masayoshi Son, chief executive of Softbank, will become CEO of the new company, and Bill Morrow, CEO of Vodafone Group Europe, will be its chief operating officer. In addition, Vodafone's Arun Sarin will become a board member.
Softbank has recently been reported to be
in discussions with Apple Computer regarding an iPod phone, though the company has not confirmed any deal.
All these moves come as the Japanese government is moving to adopt a so-called "number portability" rule later this year. The adoption is expected to significantly shift the numbers of cell phone users among providers.
Hayashi Sakawa and Kyoko Fujimoto of CNET Japan reported from Tokyo.
Chinese authorities have reportedly taken iPads from a third-party retailer, a move apparently brought on by Apple's continued refusal to honor a trademark for the iPad name owned by a Chinese manufacturer.
NY professor believes that a word-based algorithm can help bring together those who believe, with one glimpse, that they have found and lost the love of their lives.
After a higher-than-expected fourth quarter, the video subscription service unburdens itself of a pending yearlong class action suit and settles for $9 million.
Along with green-lighting Google's buy of Motorola, the Justice Department today OKs an Apple-Microsoft-RIM partnership deal to buy Nortel patents, and Apple's plan to acquire Novell patents.
Chamtech's spray-on antenna uses a nano material to provide a low-power boost to antenna range. The wireless-in-a-can product may some day bring an end to unsightly cell towers.
This week, we pass around Sony's new PlayStation Vita for some hands-on testing, check out HP's newest Beats Audio laptop, and debate the best and worst Valentine's Day gadget gifts.
EnerG2 opens a plant to make an engineered carbon that will improve performance of energy storage devices and make storage for start-stop hybrid cars less expensive.
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