From Digital World Tokyo comes an article looking at the deal between telecoms software specialist Voice Bank and the Digital Manga Association Japan (DMAJ) to bring manga to the iPhone.

HYOGO, Japan--VOICE-BANK(CEO: Yoshihide Kinokawa), Inc. announced at Red Herring 2007 "Insight Japan" that they will start delivering MANGA for iPhone users in the US with Digital Manga Association Japan (Chairman: Monkey Punch).

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(July 9, 2007- New York, NY) -Already established as the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world, DC Comics announced today the creation of Zudacomics.com, a new web comics imprint. The home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman, DC Comics will soon publish new, never before seen online content featuring new characters and concepts through Zudacomics.com.

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uclick, a leader in mobile entertainment, has announced an agreement that brings the critically-acclaimed comic book series Umbra, by Stephen Murphy and Mike Hawthorne, to mobile phones throughout North America, UK, Australia and South Africa.

Kansas City, MO - June 27, 2007 -- uclick, a leader in mobile entertainment, has announced an agreement that brings the critically-acclaimed comic book series Umbra, by Stephen Murphy and Mike Hawthorne, to mobile phones throughout North America, UK, Australia and South Africa.

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According to a report from the market research and consulting company Seed Planning, Japan's e-book market experienced tremendous growth in 2006 as a result of the popularity of mobile manga. The report estimates that the e-manga market will continue to grow throughout 2007, and will reach 71 billion yen by 2012.

According to the report, Japan's e-book market tripled in 2006, reaching 28 billion yen. E-manga occupied over 2/3 of the e-book market at 19 billion yen, 5 times as much as 2005's 4 billion yen.

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From Trendsspotting (via MangaBlog) comes an article that looks at the popularity of manga downloads in Japan, and whether the trend will spread to the West. Also included is a translation of the survey from Infoplant on manga downloads:

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New York, New York -- DC Comics, the world's largest English language comic book publisher announced today an investment in Flex Comix, a newly established manga production and publishing company in Japan. Flex Comix is comprised of a diverse consortium of investors including DC Comics, SOFTBANK TECHNOLOGY, Archetype Technologies, MOVIDA ENTERTAINMENT and T&M. Flex Comix will create original manga titles that will be distributed digitally across the web and on mobile phones with subsequent print editions available through traditional book trade outlets throughout Japan.

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NETCOMICS, a New Jersey-based online/offline graphic novel publisher, will provide manga titles from Yaoi Press, an Original English Language (OEL) publisher of yaoi manga, through its website NETCOMICS.com starting June 15th. The website allows subscribers to sample opening chapters for free and to read entire volumes for about US$1.00 each.

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The Yaoi Press blog reports that Yaoi Press' manga has finally appeared on NETCOMICS' online website. The first chapter of the manga, Winter Demon by Studio Kosaru (art) and Yamila Abraham (story) can be viewed for free, while the remaining chapters are available for $0.25 per chapter.

Via: Manga Maniac Cafe

PWCW reports that DC Comics has announced its plan to invest in Flex Comics, a "manga production company that will create original manga for the web, mobile phones and print collections for worldwide distribution":

Translated editions of Japanese manga dominate U.S. graphic novel sales and the Flex Comics venture makes DC Comics one of the first English-language publishers with a significant investment in a Japanese manga producer.

Source: Publishers Weekly