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Technology Stocks : Vodafone-Airtouch (NYSE: VOD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jules Shear who wrote (1984)	10/5/1999 8:01:00 AM
From: David Wiggins	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3175

Jules, I agree. The 'one rate' plans were killing them. That is why the beal with BEL had to be done for both sides. I'm sure that a roaming agreement in effect immediately was a part of the deal so we should expect to see a big push any day now on the part of BEL and VOD/ATI. Additionally, Globalstar is coming on line. with this these guys can offer the user something no one else can or will be able to do in the next few years. COMPLETE coverage. Bottom line - Expect this to be the bottom regarding subscriber number gains in US for a long time to come.

To: Jules Shear who wrote (1984)	10/5/1999 8:14:00 AM
From: MrGreenJeans	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3175

Just a Few Thoughts hope they can "get their eye back on the ball" of executing on the business plan 1. Vodafone was paid a premium for merging its American assets with Bell and also received a greater than proportionate share in the new venture of 45% with a couple of "outs" within three to seven years if Bell cannot execute the plan. Vod also saves themselves somewhere around $15 billion dollars in start up costs and acquiring a new network here in the US which would have slowed down their growth for two to three years. 2. The venture ranks Vod-Ati-Bel as, at the moment, the number one wireless operation in the US twice as big as ATT with approximately 20 million US customers. Roaming costs will come down and a single standard of wireless technology will emerge. 3. By acting fast and definitively Vod management shows a focus. Vod can now concentrate on acquiring Mannesmann which I believe they will do within the next 1.5 years to solidify their European operations. 4. BT Cellnet grew faster in this quarter by giving away mobile phones as part of a credit card deal. Very savy but it won't be known for another few quarters whether or not these customers will be kept. 5. The fourth quarter, Xmas, is usually the strongest period for signing up new customers. I would focus on the subscriber numbers that come out early next year. 6. The next important report is due out in November when Vod-Ati disclose their interim results. 7. Vod-Ati remains one of the most profitable companies in the world. Yes, you are correct subscriber numbers are important but during 1999 Vod management has been concentrating on building and positioning themselves as a global player (Ati acquisition, Bel deal, Mannesmann in the wings). There is a lot of opportunity as well as risk. The outlook seems bright. Further, they have NO global competition. My conclusion: the business plan is humming on all fronts.