The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
October 27, 2003
Sony and NTT DoCoMo Agree to Form
Joint Venture Company for FeliCa Business
- Creating a New Lifestyle Based on the Open FeliCa Platform
-
Sony Corporation
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
For Immediate Release
TOKYO, JAPAN, October 27, 2003 --- Sony Corporation
and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. have agreed to form a Joint Venture
Company to develop new services based on mobile phones equipped
with Sony's contactless IC Card technology FeliCa®.
The Joint Venture is targeted for establishment in January
2004. Discussions between Sony and DoCoMo will continue
to finalize the details of this company which will be named:
FeliCa Networks, Inc.
Sony began developing FeliCa in 1988, and business use of
the technology became widespread following the deployment
of the technology in Hong Kong transport systems in 1997.
FeliCa is now used in JR East's Suica® system, as well
as in a number of transport systems around the world. Other
applications include the "Edy" electronic money
service, the "eLIO" online credit service and
various company/organizational ID security systems. At present,
38 million cards using FeliCa chips have been issued worldwide.
DoCoMo launched its mobile internet service i-mode®
in 1999, and has gained approximately 40 million subscribers
to date. DoCoMo has constantly aimed to upgrade the service
by adding various new technologies to enhance interface
with other devices, including infrared communications and
two-dimensional bar codes. The enhancement of the i-mode
handset interface is one primary example of DoCoMo's goal
to promote mobile multimedia services by linking i-mode
and real businesses.
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
(prepaid money) 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.
DoCoMo plans to launch a test service for mobile phones
equipped with the mobile FeliCa IC chip in December of this
year. FOMA® and mova® FeliCa equipped phones are
scheduled to go on sale in Japan by the end of Fiscal Year
2004.
Through the operations of this new company, Sony and DoCoMo
aim to strengthen the market and also create new technological
opportunities within the mobile phone sector. At the same
time, they will energetically promote the FeliCa technology
service platform in order to become a pillar of the rapidly
emerging world of contactless IC services.
Outline of Joint Venture Based on Agreement
| Company Name:
|
FeliCa Networks,
Inc. |
| President: |
Soichi Kawachi
(scheduled) |
| Capital: |
Approx. 6
billion yen (to be finalized) |
| Investment
Ratio: |
Sony 60%,
NTT DoCoMo 40% |
| Employees: |
Approx. 90 |
| Main Business: |
Mobile FeliCa
IC chip development and production/sales licensing.
Operation of mobile FeliCa service platform |
About Sony
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video,
game, communications, key device and information technology
products for the consumer and professional markets. With
its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line
businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading
personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony
recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $62
billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003. Sony Global
Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications
company with more than 47 million customers. The company
provides a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia
services. These include i-mode®, the world's most popular
mobile internet service, which provides e-mail and internet
access to over 39 million subscribers, 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
and North and South America, the company is expanding its
global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and
multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and
North and South America. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo
(9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.
For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com
FeliCa is a registered
trademark of Sony Corporation.
i-mode and FOMA, are trademarks or registered trademarks
of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
mova is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers
in Japan. Suica is a registered trademark of East Japan
Railway Co.
|
