MUMBAI: Japan's NTT DoCoMo Inc. and Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) have inked a business tie-up to develop content and related services that combine mobile communications and conventional TV programs.

Under the agreement, the companies will form a seven-year limited liability partnership, D.N. dream partners LLP, on 3 April 2006 (tentative), with DoCoMo investing five billion yen and NTV five billion yen. The partnership will invest in content and also develop content itself, including TV programs that can be viewed with mobile phones, states an official release.

In addition, the two companies will jointly study new business opportunities, including a service that combines so-called "One-segment" terrestrial digital broadcasting that will begin in Japan this spring, and i-mode services, as well as content developed by NTV for DoCoMo's conventional services such as V-Live video streaming and i-motion video clip distribution services. NTV entertainment events with special activities for users of "Osaifu-Keitai" phones equipped with IC chips are also planned.

The mobile communications company NTT Docomo offers leading-edge mobile multimedia services. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific and Europe, the release adds.