|
Microsoft to tie up with Toshiba, others in music distribution+
(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, June 1_(Kyodo) _ Microsoft Corp. announced Wednesday it will tie up with Toshiba Corp., Victor Co. of Japan, NTT DoCoMo Inc. and five other Japanese companies to make a full-fledged entry into the music and video downloading service industry in Japan.
Microsoft and the eight companies will cooperate in developing a portable music and video player to catch up with Apple Computer Inc.'s popular iPod music player.
Microsoft intends to develop audio and video playback software and provide it to Toshiba and Victor which will develop portable music players that accept the software by the end of June, it said.
NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile-phone operator, is also expected to come up with a mobile phone that can be used as a music and video player in the summer, it said, adding five other companies, including NTT Communications, will also take part in the project.
Apple's iPod music player currently has more than half the share of the Japanese market.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|