OSAKA -- NTT-West Corp. President Kazuo Asada on Thursday said job cuts are one option for trimming costs and putting the firm's business into the black within three years.

Speaking at his first press conference at the newly inaugurated NTT-West's headquarters in Osaka's Chuo Ward, Asada also said discount telephone services may differ from area to area depending on the business conditions in each.

"We would like to maintain a basic telephone charge, although some areas (we cover) are not profitable," Asada said. "But services may differ, reflecting business situations in each area."

Asada admitted that NTT-West has a tough road ahead, as the company covers not-so- profitable areas from Shizuoka to Okinawa prefectures and has 67,500 employees, a figure greater than its counterpart, NTT-East.

In response to questions about any specific plans to cut jobs, Asada said he does not want to place the issue on the top of the list of possible cures, but added that it is a matter of course that "it is one of the options."

Although the 59-year-old president failed to map out exactly how he intends to pull the firm out of the red, he said he will draw up a strategy based on business figures to June 30.

"The information-related market is expanding by 30 percent annually," Asada said. "If we can capture the trends of the fast-changing market, I think we have many opportunities for growth."