Jupiter Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (J:COM), the largest cable operator in Japan, has inked a deal to market WILLCOM handsets under the "J:COM Mobile" brand.

J:COM expects to offer mobile services in March 2006 for a monthly fee of JPY 2,900 (about US $25). The operator will offer the service as a bundle to customers who sign up for more than one service. Calls between WILLCOM subs and J:COM Mobile subs will be free.

The deal will add a mobile component to J:COM's current "triple play" of video, voice and data services.

"With this new partnership, J:COM has just made its first swing at a grand slam," said J:COM President & CEO Tomoyuki Moriizumi, in a statement.

J:COM markets broadband services to about 2 million homes in the Sapporo, Kanto, Kansai and Kyushu areas. WILLCOM had 3.43 million customers as of September 2005.