DG Mobile Inc. ("DG-M," Head Office: Shibuya, Tokyo; President: Kazusuke Obi), a member of the Digital Garage, Inc. group, agreed in August 2004 on the establishment of a strategic alliance with the Digital Manga Association (Chairman: Monkey Punch), which is promoting the digitization of comic contents. Utilizing the technologies and creative assets they have, the partners will produce and distribute comic contents newly written for the Mobile Comic Solution, the comics distribution service for third-generation mobile phones being promoted by DG-M.

DG-M has been making efforts to expand sales and use of the Mobile Comic Solution, the integrated technological infrastructure for distributing comic contents primarily to third-generation (3G) mobile phones, which are coming into an increasingly widespread use. DG-M had sought a partner able to intensively and continuously produce and develop newly written comic contents that best match this new technology and to become a provider of the new entertainment contents via cellular phones. On the other hand, through well-known cartoonists, the Japan Digital Manga Association has been studying subjects such as digitization in the creation of cartoons and copyright issues relating to digitization. The organization agreed on the alliance as they looked for opportunities to allow cartoonists to display their contents creation abilities in the cellphone contents business.

To take advantage of this strategic alliance, they will commence activities to establish an entertainment business for mobile phones. Specifically, they will provide works created by prominent cartoonists belonging to the Digital Manga Association for the EZweb official site "MANGAICHIBA.COM" (a service inaugurated on August 19; see below for an outline), which is being supported by DG-M. In addition to providing the Mobile Comic Solution technology, DG-M will be responsible for making contents distribution data and installing distribution systems.

In its 3G mobile contents business, DG-M aims to acquire a total of 200,000 subscribers (members) in two years. DG-M has plans to spread the use of comic contents through mobile phones and to extend the contents business abroad.


Outline of the service at the EZweb official site "MANGAICHIBA.COM"
Information fee: 315 yen charged monthly and 31 yen charged per work (both including tax and excluding communication charge)
Update: Every Friday. Service to start with 22 works, eventually providing 1,000 works.
Access: EZ Menu Top > Search with EZ Service > Digital Book > Comics
EZ Menu Top > Hobbies & Culture > TV.Media > Magazines
Terminals: All models ready for EZweb
Contents provider: ADjust Co., Ltd.


About Digital Manga Association.
Head Office: 701, 2-41-12, Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
http://www.dma-j.net/dma_page/index.html
Foundation: March 1, 2003
Directors: Chairman: Monkey Punch; Vice Chairman: Tetsuya Chiba; Vice Chairman: Machiko Satonaka
Purposes of the organization: Sharing wisdom and knowledge about the technology necessary for creating cartoons based on digital expression; pursuing the methods of research and study to obtain more effective means of expression; and looking into copyright issues that will develop from digitization