Access Co., a maker of mobile phone software, will develop Linux-based applications with NEC Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. for NTT DoCoMo Inc. handsets.
The software will become available in the year to March 2010, Tokyo-based Access said in a statement Tuesday.
Access is developing an open-source operating system called Access Linux Platform for hand-held devices to win share from Symbian Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. in the smart phone market, which comprises 104 million unit handsets globally.
Smart phones are the most expensive handsets and have computerlike capabilities, allowing users to run business documents and install software for new functions.