Sony Corp. and NTT DoCoMo Inc. have planned to jointly develop mobile phones which facilitates personal shopping payment, Japanese media said Wednesday.

The cell phones feature built-in integrate circuit microchips which enable owners to pay easily at shops by only holding their handsets near a card reader, said Kyodo News.

NTT DoCoMo said in a statement that a final agreement has yet to be concluded.

The chips would be based on Sony's Felica smart-card technology and embedded in selected versions of NTT DoCoMo's third-generation FOMA mobile phones before a comprehensive application, Kyodo News quoted Sony officials as saying.

Sony's Felica card is a no-contact type which requires only to be held near a reader.

The two companies are still negotiating quota of shares of a joint venture for this project, Kyodo said.

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