TOKYO, JAPAN, June 21, 2004 ---NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement with MappointAsia (Thailand) Company Limited, which is a Thailand-based digital mapping and location-based service provider. Under the agreement, NTT DoCoMo will acquire a 17.6 % equity stake in the company for a cash consideration of approx. US$1.9 million (approx. 210 million yen).
MappointAsia is known for its expertise regarding the development of state-of-the-art digital maps, as well as technology for developing high-quality location-based services. The company is also a strategic partner of Mobile Innovation Co., Ltd., a vehicle fleet-management joint venture in which NTT DoCoMo holds a 40% equity stake worth approx. 600 million yen.
NTT DoCoMo expects to combine its own know-how and experience regarding location-based service with Mappoint Asia's expertise in the field in order to carry out services in Thailand, and is also looking forward to the development of digital maps and additional competitive location-based services that will result from the synergistic relationship between MappointAsia and Mobile Innovation.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company, serving more than 48 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 41 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. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North America, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit
www.docomo.ne.jp/englishi-mode and FOMA are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is available only to subscribers in Japan.
About MappointAsia
MappointAsia is a Southeast Asia regional mapping company with diverse map-based businesses and products. Our businesses include sale of GIS software and soft-copy Photogrammetry from Intergraph, IKONOS satellite imagery and navigation map data of Thailand and Malaysia. We operate IKONOS satellite ground station and use IKONOS high resolution images to make maps. For the private businesses, we develop and market solutions for Real-Time Vehicle Tracking, Location-based Services and Logistic and Fleet Management. MappointAsia is the strategic partner of Mobile Innovation, Joint Venture between Loxley and DoCoMo.
