DoCoMo picks up rest of PacketVideo

Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo said Monday it has acquired the remaining 65 per cent of multimedia software firm PacketVideo that it did not already own. The move takes PacketVideo out of the hands of US wireless broadband vendor NextWave Wireless and makes it a wholly owned DoCoMo subsidiary.

DoCoMo spent $45.5m in cash on the acquisition of 35 per cent of PacketVideo only last month, and this week paid out an extra $111.6m for the remainder of the firm in a move which will strengthen the Japanese giant’s position in music and video mobile services.

The carrier aims to create enhanced media services that allow users to easily link their mobile handsets with home electronic devices to remotely enjoy and share content, the company said. The two companies have been working together since 1998 and DoCoMo has deployed PacketVideo’s multimedia player on more than 90 handset models.