Reuters reports Google has reached a partnership agreement with DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile service provider to offer search and email - an audience of more than 49 million users. The service could also include access to photo-sharing service Picasa and the Google Calendar application - all of which scheduled early next year. This follows up DoCoMo's joining of the Open Handset Alliance, a group of companies committed to working with Google on the Android platform.

This would be a major win for Google. Yahoo, for once, is leading the way - securing major deals in Asia and most recently striking a deal with America Movil, Latin America's top mobile phone company. For users, it all points to a stronger future for the mobile 'Net and healthy competition. "What we are seeing is that it's not an issue of dominance on the mobile platform," said Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. "It's an issue about many strong players each trying to grow stronger."