NTT DoCoMo and Pioneer Corporation are teaming-up to work on navigation services compatible with the “docomo Drive Net” service in Japan.
Under the agreement, a mobile car-navigation application for smartphones, docomo Drive Net powered by Carrozzeria, will be developed by Pioneer and offered by DOCOMO starting from the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2011.
Pioneer also will develop an in-car cradle for smartphones and the Smart Loop application for enhanced route guidance based on traffic conditions.
Finally, users will be able to use docomo Drive Net’s map and location-based information, such as tourism facilities and real-time parking availability.
Going forward, the two companies may expand the scope of the agreement to work with content holders and handset manufacturers, and possibly introduce the service model in overseas markets.
Personally I’m not sure there’s a room for another player in the navigation market of the Western hemisphere with companies like Google, Nokia, Microsoft, Garmin and TomTom among others fighting for their slice of the pie… but what do I know. 😉