Working together on next-generation mobile phones
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-05 15:08

Japan, China and South Korea will work together to develop cutting-edge technologies, including fourth-generation mobile phones, digital broadcasting, computer security and open-source software, a Japanese official said Monday.

For several months, the nations have been working on a plan to cooperate in information technologies, including future Internet systems, an official at the telecommunications ministry said on customary condition of anonymity.

At a meeting in Seoul in March, officials from the three countries agreed to share information about and work together on developing fourth-generation mobile phones by 2010, another ministry official said. No specifics on a standard have been decided, he said.

Another meeting is scheduled in July, and an agreement on 4G phones may be discussed there, officials said.

The most common cell phones now in use in the region are second-generation, although 3G use is expanding in some nations, including Japan and South Korea. A single global standard for 3G has yet to be established, while fourth-generation mobile systems are still in the experimental stage.

Asian neighbors Japan, China and South Korea have stepped up their push to pool resources on new technologies and possible common standards for the region. Exchange has been ongoing about the potential of the Linux and other open-source operating systems that offer alternatives to products from U.S.-based Microsoft Corp.