Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: marginmike who wrote (21512)	1/18/1999 12:41:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Respond to of 152472

Could Be Good For The Q> Vodafone Sticks With CDMA In U.S. by: Rodolse 13787 of 13787 From TotalTele. Looks like the only way Vodafone will build/acquire a GSM system in the U.S. is if Bell Atlantic refuses to extend partnership with VOD/ATI, which I give a probability of zippozilch. Good news, indeed. Vodafone Group plc, which agreed to buy AirTouch Communications Inc. for $59.7 billion to create the world's largest wireless phone company, said it will keep AirTouch's U.S. network and expand across the country. Vodafone Chief Executive Chris Gent said in an interview he wants to continue AirTouch's joint venture with Bell Atlantic Corp., which also bid for the company, to maintain its reach in the East. He also warned that Vodafone will face losses for two to three years after charges from the purchase. The acquisition of San Francisco-based AirTouch, the fourth- largest ever, gives Vodafone a European network stretching from Sweden to Greece, as well as larger presence in Asia and a foothold in the U.S. Even so, the combined company will need to stretch across the U.S. to better compete with coast-to-coast providers AT&T Corp., Nextel Communications Inc. and Sprint PCS, analysts said. "The competitive marketplace is going to force Bell Atlantic and AirTouch to cooperate," said Kevin Roe, an analyst at ABN Amro Inc., who rates AirTouch "buy." "They're already partners, but it has to get bigger than that." AirTouch Chairman and CEO Sam Ginn said the companies plan to begin talks as early as Monday to seek a stronger partnership with Bell Atlantic. Officials at Bell Atlantic weren't immediately available to comment, though the company said Friday it will continue its roaming agreements with AirTouch that give both companies nationwide reach, as well their PrimeCo Personal Communications joint venture. Vodafone has been reluctant to enter the U.S. market, where there are several competing digital technologies. CEO Gent dismissed speculation Vodafone might divide up AirTouch and retain only the European assets. Continued cooperation with Bell Atlantic, which has a cellular joint venture with AirTouch called PrimeCo Personal Communications, is key to its efforts to build up its U.S. operations, he said. "We'd like to work with them going forward," Gent said. "It's important to have a countrywide capability, and I think that's why Bell Atlantic was talking to AirTouch in the first place." If the companies can't reach an agreement with the New York- based local phone company, Vodafone and AirTouch will buy or build their own nationwide system, Ginn said. "The aspiration of Vodafone AirTouch is to be a global company, and to be global you have to be in the U.S.," Ginn said in an interview. Even so, Ginn said he doesn't expect Bell Atlantic's rejected bid to keep the company from working out an arrangement with Vodafone and AirTouch. "Certainly, there will be some disappointment, but I think we are professionals," he said. "We will get over that by at least the end of the weekend and be ready to do what is best."