NTT DoCoMo and Google have formed a partnership that includes providing search services, search-related advertisements and potential applications to i-mode users.

The two companies will additionally collaborate to enhance the user-friendliness of i-mode services by making various Google services easier to access through i-mode handsets. The default pre-loading of the Google Maps application into upcoming DoCoMo i-mode handsets is one of the initial initiatives being discussed.

i-mode is a mobile Net service provided by DoCoMo. Through the partnership with Google, i-mode users will be served Google search results for mobile and PC web sites via the i-mode

portal search box. Launch of the expanded search services is scheduled in spring 2008. The new search box will be placed on the top page of the i-mode portal.

Simultaneously with the launch of the new search services, keyword-based advertisements using Google’s ad platform AdWords will plus be provided on the search conclusion pages in conjunction with the search results.

DoCoMo and Google will additionally continue to study the possibility of bringing Android-based handsets to the Japanese market. Android was announced by the Open Handset Alliance last year.

Orginal post by Top Tech News