The world's largest phone company says it wants to create a more open environment for video content providers (CPs) wishing to reach its mobile phone subscribers. NTT-DoCoMo has signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with RealNetworks, saying Real's Mobile Streaming Server software could increase supply and demand for video content.

If completed, the deal would allow CPs to use Real's cross-platform, multi-format server software in conjunction with DoCoMo's “V-Live” video service, offered to subscribers of its 3G (UMTS) “FOMA” (freedom of mobile information everywhere) network. Both parties have “agreed to work together to complete a definitive agreement detailing their collaboration,” according to an NTT-DoCoMo statement.

Real, formerly Progressive Networks, has marketed cross-platform streaming video technology since the mid-1990s. Its multimedia streaming products support formats that include Windows Media, QuickTime, MPEG-4, and “3GPP-based” media, in addition to the company's own RealAudio and RealVideo formats.

Additionally, Real offers small-footprint clients for a variety of desktop and mobile OSes, including Linux. It also operates the “Rhapsody” music download service, one of the largest in the world, in terms of subscribers.

DoCoMo is the telecommunications half of NTT-DoCoMo, which ranked 18th on Fortune Magazine's 2005 “Global 500.” NTT-DoCoMo reportedly netted about $83.3B in 2005, with income of $2,248B, while employing 461,000, or about 130,000 more people than IBM, according to Fortune.

NTT-DoCoMo has previously invested in embedded Linux provider MontaVista, and it offers its customers Linux-powered mobile phones from NEC and Panasonic.

 
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