OREANDA-NEWS. NTT DOCOMO, INC., a personalized mobile solutions provider for smarter living, announced its agreement today with robotics technology developer RT. WORKS Co., Ltd. and automobile parts manufacturer Katayama Kogyo Co., Ltd. to develop personal-vehicle sharing solutions similar to bike-sharing services that are gaining popularity in urban centers worldwide. The three companies will conduct extensive field trials in Tokyo for about one year starting April 1.

The trials will comprise three phases: evaluation of personal vehicles' operability on sidewalks; analysis of user feedback from trials; and overall feasibility assessment. Two types of one-person vehicles will be tested—RT. WORKS's Robot Assist Walker RT. 1, an autonomous walking-assist electric cart equipped with motion and environmental sensors, and Katayama Kogyo's Walking Bicycle, a saddleless three-wheeler with a motor powered by the rider stepping on pedals. Both vehicles will be integrated with DOCOMO's personal vehicle sharing systems.

DOCOMO already provides wireless management systems for bike-sharing services in cooperation with local governments in Yokohama, Hiroshima, Sendai and Tokyo Metropolitan cities including Koto, Chiyoda and Minato. The bikes are retrofitted with DOCOMO's devices for wireless communication, GPS and remote-control capabilities. Remote management offers advantages such as smaller and less expensive bike stations and real-time monitoring of the availability and whereabouts of each bike in the system.

Going forward, DOCOMO plans to further integrate its wireless management system for personal vehicles to enable users including the elderly to travel more freely for improved personal wellbeing and a more sustainable society.

About NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO provides innovative, convenient and secure mobile services that enable smarter living for each customer. The company serves over 65 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world's first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner companies. DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges.