NTT DoCoMo (News - Alert), Inc. and Google Inc. have announced the formation of a partnership, which includes providing search services, search-related advertisement and potential applications to i-mode users.

The two companies are also expected to collaborate to enhance the user-friendliness of i-mode services, by making various Google (News - Alert) services easier to access through i-mode handsets.

According to a NTT DoCoMo press statement, the default pre-loading of Google Maps application into upcoming DoCoMo i-mode handsets is one of the initial initiatives being discussed.

Both the companies are intending to increase accessibility, user-friendliness and also develop the usefulness of mobile Internet services in the Japanese market by connecting i-mode with various services provided by Google.

Through the partnership with Google, i-mode users will be served Google search results for mobile and PC web sites through the i-mode portal search-box. Company officials said that the launch of the expanded search services is scheduled in spring 2008.

The new search-box will be placed on the top-page of the i-mode portal, which according to the officials -- will increase the immediate accessibility and convenience of searches on i-mode.

In addition, the launch of the new search services in spring 2008, key-word based advertisements using Google’s ad platform AdWords will also be provided on the search-result pages in conjunction with the search results.

Officials indicated that as a first initiative beyond searches, Google Maps for Mobile is under discussion to become a standard pre-installed application on upcoming i-mode handsets to be launched in the near future.

Both the companies are also planning to collaborate around other services and search-related functions.

Officials informed that the companies intend to make it easier for i-mode users to use Google services such as Gmail, YouTube (News - Alert) and Picasa by providing users more seamless and immediate access over the mobile phone.

Also, in all upcoming DoCoMo full-browser capable handsets, Google will be set to appear as the default start-page on the full-browser, the statement said. Google, in conjunction with DoCoMo and its subsidiaries, will also study the possibility of new mobile marketing services directed towards i-mode users.

In addition, both the companies are also expected to continue studying the possibility of bringing Android (News - Alert) based handsets to the Japanese market.

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Anshu Shrivastava is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

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