NTT DoCoMo is said to be forming a partnership with Cingular covering 3G handsets and services. The cooperation would allow subscribers to use the same handsets in both the Japan and the United States.

 

DoCoMo will likely transfer its W-CDMA format to Cingular, which up to now has not yet deployed 3G networks. I-mode specifications are also to be transferred, opening up a larger US market to 2,000-plus companies that produce i-mode content. 

 

Through it's impending acquisition of AT&T, Cingular is on the road to becoming the largest mobile operator in the US. A DoCoMo alliance would produce a combined global subscriber base second only to Vodafone. The two carriers are also planning on leveraging the larger scale to cut handset procurement costs.