Telecoms in Europe seek acquisitions

[Noreen]

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/05/technology/telekom.php

[Rik]

We seem to be moving towards a new era of multi-nationalism, where the European firms are often the hunter these days. I wonder how the American legislators will react?

[madasahatter]

Another step in the globalisation direction - me no like 

[Tacitus]

Actually I rather like the look of Spanish Telecom the owners of O2.  They seem to be quite well advanced with Femtocells which look like being the next 'big thing'.  I'm always wary of those outfits that go on the M & A trail, as it's often a sign they've run out of ideas.

[Rik]

Don't let In hear you say that, Tac, he has a passionate dislike of ST.

[Noreen]

Carphone Warehouse is selling a half share in its retailing business to US firm Best Buy for £1.1bn.

The deal is intended to create a powerful new force in UK and European electronics and electrical retailing.

Reports suggest some of the war-chest may be used to buy the UK business of broadband firm Tiscali.............

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7389291.stm

[Rik]

I can think of no better home for Tiscali than Talk Talk.

It will make them a major force in the ADSL market, though.

[Gary]

I can think of no better home for Tiscali than Talk Talk.

It will make them a major force in the ADSL market, though.

And impossible to get away from should you be unlucky enough to join the complete package like talk talk offer already, they are I think pure evil as far as marketing is concerned

[Noreen]

Carphone Warehouse fell 21p to 268p amid fears that Best Buy's £1.1 billion cash injection would not be enough to fund the British company's ambitions to buy Tiscali and take on BT in the broadband market.

Michael Williams, of Citigroup, maintained his "sell" advice with a 290p price target, saying that the Best Buy deal would not solve Carphone's "deteriorating cash position".

The group appeared to be struggling to convert sales income into cashflow, he said, as the costs of marketing and of signing up new customers in the fiercely competitive broadband market soar. Of the bidders for Tiscali, Carphone is the one that needs it most, so that TalkTalk can leapfrog BT to become the market leader.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/article3904610.ece

[Rik]

Oh dear, what a pity. 

[Noreen]

It must be awful for the broadband customers of the various Tiscali ISPs, wondering where they are going to land up.

[Rik]

OTOH, maybe they are all singing "Things can only get better"?

[Inactive]

Don't let In hear you say that, Tac, he has a passionate dislike of ST.

Correct, Telefonica, the name for the Spanish equivalent of BT are thieving, monopolistic barstewards, in Spain.

They charge 39 Euro's a month for a IMB Connection, take it or leave it, they stop any competition in it's tracks, they put 2 fingers up at the EU Legislator's and just pay the imposed fines, they can afford to.

[Rik]

OTOH, they do have such awfully nice vans.

[Inactive]

Read " did have " most of them have gone, subbed out to little Mickey Mouse outfits, in beat up heaps.

[Rik]

Oh, a bit like Sky you mean.

[Inactive]

Exactly Rik, a similar company ethos as well..

( As in stuff the customers needs ).

[Rik]

The quality of service is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But service is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When service seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for service;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of service. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.


With apologies to the Bard.

[Inactive]

Well said that man..

[madasahatter]

Latest on the great Tiscali sell off here

[Rik]

Seems like the bidders are being more realistic than the sellers. 

[madasahatter]

Tiscali to go vodafone?

[Rik]

I can see the attraction for Vodafone, it will make the mobile market 'interesting' if it goes ahead - more bundles ahead I suspect.

[Glenn]

It's a lot of money for an ISP that is not profitable

[Rik]

Any amount would be, of course. I completely fail to see the logic in buying a company that has never made a profit. I guess that's why I don't drive a Porsche etc.

[Inactive]

They are just buying their mug customer base, many stitched in to long contracts, many not knowing any better.

[Rik]

But if they are losing money on those customers, what do they gain?

[Inactive]

Increase prices at the drop of a hat, offer them a " deal " on their mobile phone set up as a sweetener to stay, other than that, like you, I have no idea.

[madasahatter]

But if they are losing money on those customers, what do they gain?

I think in the case of Vodafone it's a ready made customer base to sell their moby contracts etc to

[Rik]

That's the only thing which makes sense, Mad, with the long-term aim of being able to sell complete packages.

[madasahatter]

I often wondered why Vodafone hadn't until now gone down this route as Orange and O2 have. I suppose doing it this way they don't have any of the network start up costs - it's all there ready and waiting for them.

[Rik]

Tangled webs and all that, Mad.