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Non-Tech : AKH...the NEW Air France/KLM -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Skywatcher who wrote (53)	7/17/2007 1:49:27 PM
From: Skywatcher	Respond to of 72

Air France-KLM Circling Iberia Lionel Laurent, 07.17.07, 12:47 PM ET LONDON - Only four days after Spanish airline Iberia declared itself ready to engage with a British Airways-led consortium offering nearly $5 billion for the company, the rival bidder it has been desperately hoping for may have arrived in the form of Air France-KLM. Air France-KLM (nyse: AKH - news - people ) said in a statement on Monday that "Spain is one of the foremost markets and Iberia (other-otc: IBRLF - news - people ) is a significant player in air travel," adding that the Spanish carrier was being studied from the perspective of "consolidation vital to the efficiency and profitability of the sector." A source close to the situation said that the Franco-Dutch airline had been in talks with British private equity group Apax Partners, as well as several other Spanish interests, for some time. He added that nothing concrete had been finalized and that the statement from the airline was attributable more to intense commentary surrounding potential bidders for Iberia. "Their hand has probably been forced," he remarked. There could be another reason for hitting the gas pedal and revving up a bidding war. Iberia decided last week to open up its books to a consortium led by another private equity group, Texas Pacific, and British Airways (other-otc: BAIRY - news - people ), which owns a 10% stake in the Spanish carrier. The consortium tabled an offer of 3.4 billion euros ($4.7 billion), or 3.6 euros ($4.96) per share, back in May. But Iberia seemed reluctant even to acknowledge the bid, desperately hoping a better offer would come along. With Lufthansa (other-otc: DLAKF - news - people )'s Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber declaring Iberia "overvalued" and the British Airways consortium refusing to up the price, the bidding war looked stalled at the takeoff stage. (See "Iberia Takeover: From Fiesta To Siesta?") But if Air France-KLM is ready to wade in at a time when takeover speculation has boosted Iberia's share price by 90% over the past year, buying the Spanish carrier may prove costlier than British Airways anticipated. Shares in Iberia pushed up 2 euro cents (3 cents), or 0.5%, to 3.79 euros ($5.22) on Tuesday. Air France-KLM fell 12 euro cents (17 cents), or 0.4%, to 34.25 euros ($47.20), while British Airways sank 4.50 pence (9 cents), or 1%, to 434.25 pence ($8.88). For the moment, however, Iberia is still looking at only one firm offer. And British Airways would be a better fit for the Spanish carrier, given the two airlines' close ties and profit- and revenue-sharing joint venture for U.K.-Spain routes. Still, the possibility of a duel will reassure those who feared a one-bid show.

To: Skywatcher who wrote (53)	7/17/2007 2:34:38 PM
From: Skywatcher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 72

KLM: Letting Outside Tech In The Dutch airline is weaving software and hardware designed for consumers into the fabric of its corporate systems by Rachael King SPECIAL REPORT CEO Guide to Technology Like many corporations, KLM found itself in a consumer-tech Catch-22. Tech-handy employees wanted to use their own gear and software at work—a tendency that can compromise network security. But the encroachment of consumer tech in the workplace can also foster innovation and productivity. So rather than fight the trend, KLM (AKH) Chief Information Officer Boet Kreiken spearheaded a program called IT4ME to explore how the airline could benefit from consumer technology without compromising security by giving employees more responsibility for the products they use. The outside products that KLM often finds competing with its corporate systems include cell phones and laptops. There are also potentially nettlesome Web-based services, such as those offered by Google (GOOG), Amazon.com (AMZN), Salesforce.com (CRM), and WebEx, the provider of online collaboration tools recently bought by Cisco Systems (CSCO). While not specifically aimed at consumers, these services nevertheless find their way into corporations via individuals or small groups of employees. Kreiken refers to these resources as "extra structure" that's quickly "becoming more and more business-grade or at least good enough in many, many cases." Mobile-Phone Flexibility Kreiken's proposition is unconventional. He's had to do some convincing of naysayers. But if his program works, the experimentation could provide a blueprint for other big corporations wrestling with how to combine outside tech with internal systems. In the pilot version of IT4ME, begun last year, KLM gives employees flexibility in the mobile phones they use for work. KLM's standard issue is the Nokia (NOK) 6021, which it calls "the workhorse" because the device works on five continents, is equipped with corporate-grade security, and boasts e-mail and instant messaging. But it's not terribly sexy and some employees wanted higher-end devices with such features as a camera or music player. So KLM lets workers in the pilot use their own money, in addition to the company allowance of €150 ($207), to spend on a phone of their choosing, explains Martien van Deth, a senior technology officer who oversaw the mobile-phone program. In exchange for providing IT support for the nonstandard phones, KLM expects employees to be responsible for repairing or replacing the phone if it's broken or lost. The IT department is proposing an expansion of that pilot to include laptops. Of 4,000 laptop users, the company has identified a group of about 1,000 it deems sufficiently tech-savvy to take part. Kreiken likens this proposed pilot to the way some companies give employees a car allowance while expecting workers will be responsible for the car's repairs. Most people wouldn't think of calling the company if their car won't start, but that's the first place they call when their computers crash. "Basically, we say this is the amount we pay you for your computers and your systems, but you better be sure you're on time to work and to meetings and that you perform," Kreiken says. Enhancing Security to Compensate The executive is keen to find other ways to mesh outside tools with the company's existing systems. Already, it has incorporated Google Earth, which captures satellite images of the planet, into its public Web site, KLM.com. Last year, in another trial, the company gave 30 workers in the IT department laptops and decided to let them put whatever software they wanted on it. Of course, that degree of freedom also means beefed-up security. KLM put the laptops in the trial outside the firewall and let employees connect to necessary corporate software, such as KLM's intranet and e-mail via the Web, using upgraded security. This included the use of a device made by the security division of EMC (EMC) that requires two different types of identity authentication. Other steps the company plans to take include requiring employees to use corporate-governed e-mail and Web file storage. The company will also prohibit access when virus or firewall systems are not active or up-to-date. Kreiken has had to convince some colleagues that embracing a wider range of technologies and giving employees more freedom is a good idea. Ultimately, he says these pilot programs are a way to deal with the ever-increasing speed of business and the need for employees to continually innovate. Younger workers, especially, are demanding flexibility when it comes to the IT products and services they use. "If we don't do this in the end, we are assured that either we don't get the best people working for our company or people will bypass us. They'll start using [Microsoft's (MSFT)] Hotmail, there will be undetected situations, and corporate data will be everywhere,"