Tero,
That was an interesting article in "The Street", but you failed to mention France Telecom, and their related problems with GPRS handsets. It doesn't appear to be just a MOT related problem..... Note: the article below refers to "phomemakers" (plural). If the problem is widespread, which it appears to be, how do you know it's not the technology itself? Do you know the suppliers for France Telecom's GPRS deployment? Here's the article in case you haven't seen it;
France Telecom Delays Start of GPRS Sales After Phone Problems
Paris, Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- France Telecom SA, owner of Europe's second-biggest wireless network, said it put off selling mobile phones using technology that permits faster data transmission than current models because of problems with the handsets.
The state-controlled former phone monopoly said it will start selling mobile phones using general packet radio service technology in the first-quarter of 2001, instead of later this year as originally planned. The delay was reported earlier by French daily Les Echos.
The system, known as GPRS, permits data to be transmitted at speeds as much as 10 times faster than current wireless technology.
France Telecom and rivals, such as Vodafone Group Plc, the No. 1 wireless company, are counting on the faster speeds of GPRS, and later, universal mobile telecommunications system, or UMTS, to get users to spend more time on the phone.
They need the revenue that increased usage will bring to help finance the $300 billion or they are expected to spend for wireless licenses and building new networks.
A France Telecom spokeswoman, Nilou du Castel, declined to name the phonemakers having problems meeting their commitments to the company. She also declined to say what the problems are.
Suppliers to France Telecom's mobile unit include Sagem SA. Yesterday, the Paris-based telecommunications-equipment maker said it successfully completed GPRS tests with 15 operators and will start delivering handsets this month to four ``large operators,'' including ones located in Australia and Hong Kong.
Shares in France Telecom fell as much as 4.1 euros, or 2.9 percent, to 139.3 and were recently at 139.9 euros.
Last month, France Telecom acquired Orange Plc, the U.K.'s No. 3 mobile phone company, in a bid to become a European leader in new wireless services.
The Paris-based company has spent more than $50 billion on acquisitions and European wireless licenses this year. It plans to sell shares in its mobile division, called New Orange, in the fourth quarter and expects to raise 14 billion euros ($12.2 billion) from the sale.
Sagem shares rose as much as 5.8 percent to 328 euros.
The most popular wireless standard in Europe today is GSM, or global system for mobile communications.
Sep/08/2000 9:26 ET
Kent |
