Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. announced Wednesday they will jointly develop a third generation dual-mode mobile phone platform that will allow users of rival technology to use their handsets around the world.
The new handsets will go on sale at the end of 2003 in Japan and in spring 2004 in Europe under both brand names.
The two electronics giants will consider setting up a joint venture to manufacture the phones; the venture would design semiconductors, application software and new handsets for domestic and overseas markets.
3G mobile phones can transmit music, video and other large-data files at a high speed, but there are two main rival technologies that are taking hold in different regions, which is seen as hampering the full rollout of 3G services.
Ichiro Taniguchi, president of Mitsubishi Electric, said the deal will help the two firms to speed up development of advanced technologies and production of attractive products and reduce business costs.
"Our aims is to establish a global standard platform for 3G cell phones," he said, "and we will welcome other makers to join this project."
Japanese electronics makers are intensifying their efforts in the field, expecting a 3G handset boom to begin in early 2004.
NEC Corp. and the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. group announced a similar joint project last month.
Japan became the second country, behind South Korea, in which 3G service is offered in October when NTT DoCoMo Inc. began its FOMA service in the Kanto, Tokai and Kansai regions.