Sony Corporation

 Sony and NTT DoCoMo Agree to Form Joint Venture Company for FeliCa
                               Business;
      Creating a New Lifestyle Based on the Open FeliCa Platform
 

Sony Corporation and NTT DoCoMo, Inc. have agreed to form a Joint
Venture Company to develop new services based on mobile phones
equipped with Sony's contactless IC Card technology FeliCa(R). The
Joint Venture is targeted for establishment in January 2004.
Discussions between Sony and DoCoMo will continue to finalize the
details of this company which will be named: FeliCa Networks, Inc.

Sony began developing FeliCa in 1988, and business use of the
technology became widespread following the deployment of the technology
in Hong Kong transport systems in 1997. FeliCa is now used in JR East's
Suica(R) system, as well as in a number of transport systems around the world.
Other applications include the "Edy" electronic money service, the "eLIO"
online credit service and various company/organizational ID security
systems. At present, 38 million cards using FeliCa chips have been issued 
worldwide.

DoCoMo launched its mobile internet service i-mode(R) in 1999, and has
gained approximately 40 million subscribers to date. DoCoMo has
constantly aimed to upgrade the service by adding various new
technologies to enhance interface with other new devices, including
infrared communications and two-dimensional bar codes. The enhancement
of the i-mode handset interface is one primary example of DoMoCo's
goal to promote mobile multimedia services by linking i-mode and real
business.

The joint venture will develop the technology for a new IC chip,
tentatively named "mobile FeliCa IC", that will integrate mobile
phones with the FeliCa technology. The joint venture will then
implement production and sales licensing agreements with chip
manufacturers, and work to create a platform whereby content providers
can offer mobile services that feature both flexibility and security.
The mobile FeliCa IC and service platform will be developed in an open
environment and provided to the widest possible range of mobile
telecommunications operators and content providers.

Through this platform, customers will be able to use their mobile
phones to enjoy services previously only available with IC cards, such
as transport system payments, electronic money and personal ID
security. In addition, use of the telecom infrastructure for mobile
phones will also enable new capabilities, such as the direct
downloading of value (prepaid money) and additional content-based
data. Potential applications of the technology could include
electronic ticketing and online credit, which would provide
convenience and added value for both providers and customers.

DoCoMo plans to launch a test service for mobile phones equipped with
the mobile FeliCa IC chip in December of this year. FOMA(R) and
mova(R) FeliCa equipped phones are scheduled to go on sale in Japan by
the end of Fiscal Year 2004.

Through the operations of this new company, Sony and DoCoMo aim to
strengthen the market and also create new technological opportunities
within the mobile phone sector. At the same time, they will
energetically promote the FeliCa technology service platform in order
to become a pillar of the rapidly emerging world of contactless IC
services.

Outline of Joint Venture Based on Agreement

Company Name: FeliCa Networks, Inc.
President: Soichi Kawachi (scheduled)
Capital: Approx. 6 billion yen (to be finalized)
Investment Ratio: Sony 60%, NTT DoCoMo 40%
Employees: Approx. 90
Main Business: Mobile FeliCa IC chip development and production/sales
Licensing. Operation of mobile FeliCa service platform.

For more information, please contact:
Sony Corporation
Corporate Communications
Tel: +81-3-5448-2200
Fax: +81-3-5448-3061

International PR
Public Reltions Department
NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
Tel: +81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
e-mail: press _dcm@nttdocomo.com
website: http://www.nttdocomo.com

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game,
communications, key device and information technology products for
the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures,
computer entertainment and on-line business, Sony is uniquely
positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company
in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of
approximately $62 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.
Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

About NTT DoCoMo

NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company with
more than 47 million customers. The company provides a wide variety
of leading-edge mobile multimedia services. These include i-mode(R),
the world's most popular mobile internet service, which provides e-mail
and internet access to over 39 million subscribers, and FOMA(R), launched
in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition
to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe and North and South America,
the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances
with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific, Europe and
North and South America. NTT DoMoCo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London,
(NDCM), and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit
www.nttdocomo.com

FeliCa is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

i-mode and FOMA, are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in 
Japan and other countries.

mova is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan.

NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.

Suica is a registered trademark of East Japan Railway Co.