TOKYO—Japanese wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced it invested in two Chinese wireless software companies in an effort to tap into the massive potential of the Chinese market.
DoCoMo said it will invest $4 million in Emcore Technology Inc., a Chinese location-based services company. Separately, the carrier said it will invest $4.2 million in Digital Media Group Co. Ltd., which owns Beijing Eastlong Technology Development Co. Ltd. Eastlong Technology distributes digital advertisements, content and services for the subway stations and trains in Shanghai, and is planning to expand its digital media business using wireless technologies.
China is already the largest wireless market in the world, and still has significant room to grow. Companies from across the wireless spectrum—from handset makers to infrastructure providers to content companies—have targeted the country for investment.
Interestingly, DoCoMo also recently invested in MontaVista Software, a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company that makes a Linux platform for mobile phones. DoCoMo said the $3 million investment will help it refine its Linux software.
