Business news with words apple+deal+people. 4 news.

Apple and 20th Century Fox are to announce a deal that will allow people to rent films via iTunes, reports say.

Apple has signed News Corp's 20th Century Fox studio to a new online video-on-demand service in a deal that could change the way people pay for online film content

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Apple is making plans to take the iPhone into Japan and has held talks with NTT DoCoMo , The Wall Street Journal Asia reported, citing people familiar with the situation. Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs recently met with NTT DoCoMo's president, Masao Nakamura, to discuss a deal to offer its iPhone in Japan through Japan's dominant mobile operator, the report said. Apple has also been talking to No. 3 operator Softbank Corp., the report said.

GOOGLE Inc is in talks with Verizon Communications Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp about developing mobile-phone software and services. Two people familiar with the discussions revealed the deal to Bloomberg News. Google, owner of the world's most-popular Internet search engine, may build a phone-operating system or applications, said the people, who wanted anonymity because the talks are private. "It portends a pretty interesting combo," said Mike McGuire, an analyst at Stamford, Connecticut-based research firm Gartner Inc. Google shares rose to a record on Tuesday on speculation the company will extend its dominance of Internet advertising into wireless devices. For Verizon and Sprint, ranked second and third in United States mobile-phone customers, new programs may help bolster revenue from data services. Google's help will also give them an edge against larger rival AT&T Inc, the exclusive US service provider for Apple Inc's iPhone. Verizon Wireless spokesman Jim