Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo today announced a partnership with Indian operator Hutchison Essar under which Hutch will launch the i-mode mobile internet service in 2007.

DoCoMo will license the patented technologies and know-how needed for Hutch to offer i-mode over GSM, GPRS and WCDMA, providing access to rich content including email and games.

Friday’s announcement marks the seventeenth confirmed market for i-mode, which is currently available in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan and the UK.

Preparations are also underway to launch i-mode in Hong Kong, Macao and the Philippines.