NTT DoCoMo and LG Electronics to jointly develop dual-mode 3G FOMA handset

NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and LG Electronics, Inc. announced today a basic agreement to jointly develop a dual-mode 3G FOMA handset that works on both W-CDMA and GSM/GPRS networks, aiming at commercialization in the spring of 2006.

The new handset will be dual-mode handset capable of international roaming and equipped for all basic FOMA functions, including videophone and i-mode mobile Internet access. No more details were disclosed.

NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company, serving more than 50 million customers. The company offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode, which provides e-mail and Internet access to over 44 million subscribers as the world's most popular mobile Internet service, and FOMA, launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA.

LG Electronics, Inc. is a global force in electronics, information and communications products with 2004 annual sales of US $38 billion (consolidated). With more than 66,000 employees working in 76 subsidiaries in 39 countries around the world, LG Electronics is comprised of four main business companies including Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display, Digital Media.