DOCOMO, Eye-Fi to partner in cloud-based photo-sharing service

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NTT DOCOMO has announced a partnership with California-based Eye-Fi Inc, maker of the world’s first Wi-Fi compatible SD and SDHC cards.

Working together, the companies plan to integrate DOCOMO’s mobile “personal cloud” system for individual-oriented cloud-based services and other related services and Eye-Fi’s “View” cloud service and multiplatform, instant photo/video uploading system. As part of the partnership, and to build a strong relationship between the two companies, DOCOMO has led the $20 million Series D investment round of funding for Eye-Fi, with a $14 million investment.

DOCOMO will combine its Otayori Photo Service, which sends uploaded photos to 3G-capable digital photo frames, and Eye-Fi’s SD/SDHC card, which instantly uploads photos from digital cameras. As a result, DOCOMO customers will be able to easily send photos from their digital cameras to Otayori Photo Service without having to connect the camera via a USB or communication cable.

Eye-Fi’s latest cards, which will be made available from April, do not require initial setup via a computer, and will be easily formatted with a user’s smartphone via an Eye-Fi’s application software. DOCOMO plans to sell Eye-Fi’s latest cards at docomo shops starting in April, earlier than in most other countries.

DOCOMO and Eye-Fi also are already discussing additional possibilities for combining their respective technologies for other convenient, innovative personal-cloud services from DOCOMO.

Going forward, DOCOMO will place increasing emphasis on its growing range of personal-cloud services, in addition to continuing to diversify its lineup of smartphones and other mobile devices and developing advanced technologies centered on mobility.