Vodafone signs up big guns for Internet war
--From AOL News. More details on the partners.--Cooters
By Kirstin Ridley, European telecoms correspondent
LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Cellphone giant Vodafone AirTouch Plc <VOD.L> signed up top Internet technology and content providers on Tuesday, showing its bid target Mannesmann AG <MMNGn.DE> it is seizing the decade's great growth opportunity.
Sending shares climbing, Vodafone launched a much-heralded global platform and branded portal for mobile data and Internet, linking with Sun Microsystems <SUNW.O>, International Business Machines Corp <IBM.N>, Sweden's Ericsson AB <LMEb.ST>, Finland's Nokia <NOK1V.HE> and Palm Computing, a 3Com <COMS.O> company.
Other partners include content and commerce services group Infospace.com, financial services firm Charles Schwab and travel company Travelocity.com/Sabre.
But in a move highlighting the speed with which the pact had been pulled together, British handheld computer group Psion Plc <PON.L> was signed up so late overnight it was forced to announce a separate strategic partnership with Vodafone for mobile Internet solutions.
As the clock ticks to the official close on February 7 of Vodafone's record 134 billion euro ($138 billion) hostile bid for its European partner, the British giant said it expected to derive "significant increases" in revenues as customers took up data and Internet services.
"By accepting Vodafone AirTouch's offer, Mannesmann shareholders will have the opportunity to participate in the explosive growth opportunities of mobile data and Internet -- with a global platform covering 25 countries...48 million customers...and over 510 million potential customers," it said.
Stockmarket darling Psion led the share price rise, jumping over 10 percent to 26.50 pounds by 0840 GMT. Vodafone's gained three percent to 310p, Ericsson 1.15 percent to 526 crowns and Nokia 1.5 percent to 173.2 euros.
"I think people are excited that Psion are partners working on Vodafone's new mobile data strategy," said one analyst.
Meanwhile IBM, the world's largest computer services group, conceded that a decision had yet to be reached on the operating system and other technology aspects of the deal.
"The first phase will be a technological assessment that IBM will lead," a spokesman said.
EMPOWERING MOBILE PHONES
In another move to try to upstage its bid target ahead of the German group's defence document on Friday, Vodafone Chief Executive Chris Gent said he wanted to empower cellphones to deliver top multimedia information and services -- audio, text, graphics and video -- anytime, anywhere.
The world's biggest mobile phone giant said it would launch in July 2000 the first version of its Internet platform -- an architecture and set of hardware and software to provide world-class mobile data and Internet services.
Backed by a major marketing campaign, Vodafone said the platform will be accessed through a portal -- designed, built, managed and run by U.S giant IBM -- carrying a new global brand that would be announced in July.
Hoping to silence critics who say Vodafone has been outpaced by Mannesmann's strategic vision for the wireless future, Vodafone said it wanted to provide services ranging from messaging to desktop applications, information services and e-commerce on mobile phones and handheld computers.
As customers started taking up new high tech services ahead of a British government auction next generation mobile licences later this year, Vodafone said a trend in declining average revenues per user (ARPUs) would be reversed. Vodafone increased its ARPU estimates by 20-25 percent in the year to March 2004.
Vodafone said it would announce a number of additional partnerships both for the architecture and development of new services over the next few months.
04:35 01-11-00 |
