Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has formed an alliance with local map publisher Zenrin to jointly provide advanced map and navigation services for mobile customers in Japan.
As part of the partnership, DoCoMo will acquire a 10.27% stake, or 1,700 newly allocated shares in Zenrin DataCom, owned by Zenrin. The two also plan to develop advanced map services by combining DataCom's map content and application technologies with DoCoMo's mobile handsets.
DoCoMo will provide a utilitarian search platform that will be integrated with mobile navigation services to be developed by DataCom, the Japanese mobile giant said. The services will be linked to parent Zenrin's extensive cartographic database.
.