Japan, China, South Korea Agree to Develop Non-Windows Software, Official Says

Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to cooperate in a project to boost research and development of software for operating systems other than industry leader Microsoft Corp.'s Windows, a Japanese trade ministry official said Friday. The project, proposed by Japan's Trade Minister Takeo Hiranuma at a conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday, is intended to bolster the popularity of Windows' rivals, such as Linux, and boost their share in such markets as digital cameras, mobile phones and car navigation systems. The Japanese government has already earmarked 1 billion yen ($85.5 million) yen for the project and plans to back an open-source software forum to be set up by major Japanese electronics companies such as Hitachi, Matsushita, NEC and Fujitsu. The three countries will hold talks in mid-September to discuss further details of the project, Kume said.