Panasonic Corp.'s (6752.TO) mobile phone handset-making unit is considering developing a handset that uses Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system and re-entering overseas markets in or after the fiscal year starting April 2010, a spokesman said Thursday.

The plans by Panasonic Mobile Communications Co. take into account concerns that there is little chance for the Japanese market to grow, he said.

In Japan, NTT DoCoMo Inc. (9437.TO) plans to sell handsets using the Android operating system as early as next month to compete with Apple Inc.'s (APPL) iPhone offered by Softbank Corp.

-By Yuzo Yamaguchi, Dow Jones Newswires, +813 6895 7563; yuzo.yamaguchi@dowjones.com