Technology Oct. 06, 2008 - 05:35AM JST ( 2 )

TOKYO —

Japanese mobile provider Willcom Inc will provide information services for Chinese visitors to Japan in cooperation with Baidu, China’s largest search engine. As a first step, the Japanese personal handy-phone system operator will start leasing its handsets to Chinese tourists and business travelers by the end of this year. The two companies will also cooperate in launching Chinese-language call center operations.

The number of Chinese visitors to Japan reached an all-time high of 943,400 last year, but there is only a limited amount of information available for Chinese people visiting Japan, they said.

In the future, the two companies plan to provide shopping and restaurant information in Chinese via Willcom’s handsets.

A Baidu official said it is considering distributing Chinese-language content on the PHS network if relations with its Japanese partner further strengthen.

Baidu started full-fledged web search services for Japanese users in January.

With the partnership, Baidu aims to expand its operations in Japan, while Willcom hopes to popularize its PHS mobile network system in other Asian countries, including China.

JCN