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NTT DoCoMo to invest $234 mn in software firms

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CIOL Bureau
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TOKYO: NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's top mobile operator, said on Wednesday it will invest a total of 28 billion yen ($234 million) in two mobile software companies, Access Co. Ltd. and Aplix Corp.

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The move reflects NTT DoCoMo's strategy to strengthen its development of advanced application software and technology for the current and next-generation mobile services.

Under the agreements, DoCoMo will increase its stake in Access to 11.66 percent from 7.12 percent by buying 15 billion yen worth of shares at a 0.4 percent premium over Wednesday's closing price.

After the purchase, the mobile giant will be the second-largest shareholder in Access, which develops Internet software mainly for mobile phones.

DoCoMo will also become the top shareholder in Aplix, a developer of software to control JAVA terminals, by taking a 14.98 percent stake. DoCoMo will buy 12.98 billion yen worth of shares at a 7.2 percent discount.

The stronger relationship with Access is aimed at enhancing development of upper layer application software centred on browser technology, DoCoMo said.

The closer tie with Aplix will help reinforce the capability of DoCoMo's Java handsets and raise the efficiency of handset development, it said.

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