The Vodafone-Softbank joint venture deal for data services will challenge NTT Docomo’s i-mode service, said Masayoshi Son, president and CEO of Softbank. NTT Docomo’s i-mode service has about 46 million Japanese subscribers, while the similar service of Vodafone Japan – called Vodafone Live – has 13 million subscribers. Son wants to upgrade Vodafone Live with Softbank’s technology and distribute it worldwide. Softbank partner Yahoo Japan operates the largest portal site in that country, and its mobile portal site generates about 1.1 billion monthly page views, according to Son. “If Softbank, Yahoo and Vodafone work together, our potential in the data platform field is quite advantageous over competitors both in terms of networks and content,” Son said.
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