Baidu forms mobile content JV with DoCoMo
Japanese cellco will contribute expertise in content distribution plus apps partners, key focus to be smartphone games
Published: 11 July, 2011
READ MORE: Asia | Mobile Content
The alliance between Japan and China is getting closer, at least in wireless technology, combining the advanced mobile internet experience of the former with the latter's huge market potential and global influence. The latest milestone is a joint venture between Japan's leading cellco, NTT DoCoMo, and the rapidly expanding Chinese search engine, Baidu. The companies' partnership will distribute mobile content, such as games, in China to tap into the rise in smartphone use.
Baidu will be the dominant partner with 80% share, while DoCoMo said its 20% stake will cost about ¥2bn ($24.6m). Content to be distributed by the JV will include Japanese games, animation and comic books, leveraging the cellco's extensive network of partnerships in this field, and there will also be Chinese and English language material.
Baidu, which has over 75% of the Chinese search engine market, is following in Google's footsteps by creating a full web platform, often via third party alliances such as one with another Japanese player, ecommerce firm Rakuten, among others. It is expected to announced its own mobile operating system soon, supporting mainly web-based services and developers, and has an online video venture called Qiyi.
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