TOKYO—Japanese telecommunications giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. is reportedly set to join Cingular Wireless L.L.C. in a partnership designed to unify third-generation wireless technology, according to published reports in Japan.
The deal is expected to be similar to DoCoMo’s partnership with AT&T Wireless Services Inc., which included the sharing of phone software and DoCoMo’s i-mode wireless data service. That partnership, which included DoCoMo acquiring a 16-percent interest in AWS for $10 billion in late 2000 and contributed to AWS’ recent launch of W-CDMA services in a handful of cities, is scheduled to be cut short following Cingular’s pending acquisition of AWS set to close later this year.
Cingular announced earlier this year plans to begin trialing W-CDMA services in Atlanta as well as a higher-speed HSDPA variation of the technology.
