Five Japanese electronics giants have announced that they will jointly develop technology for next-generation computer chips.

The companies involved - NEC, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Hitachi and Mitsubishi - said they would develop a super-tiny semiconductor with government help.

Correspondents say the project is aimed at helping Japan's major computer companies to reclaim their competitive edge in the global technology market after losing ground to foreign rivals from South Korea and the United States.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service