George..if you are reading.....Just some food for thought....
Please get the deal done with VOD. I know you must wait until the VOD/ATI deal gets done first, but since BEL and ATI/VOD are not getting along and BEL put a "shot across the bow" of ATI/VOD by allowing GTE to purchase Ameritech properties in overlapping PrimeCo markets, clearly ATI/VOD is "hungry" to respond and figure-out their US footprint problem.
If ATI/VOD had OMPT, then ATI/VOD would than have the national footprint that BEL cannot respond to without building their own network out (PBMS will never sell to them!!). It would be the ultimate "return shot across the bow". Now that ERICY is in the CDMA game combined with Nokia and Motorola already making handsets for all standards- a multi-mode GSM/CDMA phone is right around the corner.
Also, the ATI execs who you know so well and worked with for many years at Pacific Bell are obviously all very $$$ people and will be riding their golden parachutes out into the sunset leaving you in perfect position to absorb the President of US role. You could play a key role in getting your worldwide GSM goal accomplished by facilitating a VOD/Mannesmann deal from your cozy relationships with the Mannesmann folks who don't like the arrogance and aggressiveness of VOD but are rational enough to share your vision.
Now with the harmonization of W-CDMA across GSM and CDMA for the future, you play the key role in "making it happen" - Just think, the worldwide standard, with the ultimate worldwide footprint could be architected now by you- Don't sell-out to a two-bit European telco with only a limited focus (i.e., Telefonica, SwissCom, etc.) trying to get a "foot-in-the-door" of the US market, or a US telco without any global wireless vision (i.e., Bell South, WCOM, etc.). These folks are not wireless visionaries-just trying to play catch-up in the global wireless game.
You built the first GSM network-and you know VOD is in best position to see it realized around the globe. You can also facilitate the thinking and architecture of the first (and only) worldwide network. I just hope your patience and OMPT's cash crunch can hold-out until the details can be worked. It would not only be best for you- but also your fellow OMPT shareholders who may be thinking beyond "pumping and dumping" your stock.
Jules
ps. Don't subject your balance sheet to anymore stress by buying Sprint Spectrum's GSM network in Wash/Balt. Let cash rich VOD/ATI pick-up the tab. Just hold-off VSTR or BLS until VOD can come to the rescue. |
