Vivendi

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. launched Motorola Inc.’s V710 handset, which includes a 1.2-megapixel camera and flash, video recorder, MP3 player and Bluetooth wireless technology. The handset also supports Alltel’s Axcess Picture Messaging application and BREW-based Axcess Mobile Web 2.0 service. …

LOS ANGELES-Video gamers worldwide reveled at the new products and titles premiering at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) video game trade show, and wireless players shared in the enthusiasm. Indeed, wireless was a prevalent theme at the show, with players …

Video gamers worldwide reveled at the new products and titles premiering at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) video game trade show in Los Angeles, and wireless players shared in the enthusiasm. Indeed, wireless was a prevalent theme at the show, …

CANNES, France-Despite the less-than-ideal weather conditions at this year’s 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, the event was highlighted by the GSM industry’s announcement of signing up its 1 billionth customer worldwide and the European market’s bright expectations for full …

HELSINKI, Finland-Internet portal Yahoo! dropped its stake in TeliaSonera’s Zed wireless data portal, but said it will continue to offer co-branded services with Zed across Europe. Yahoo! purchased a 15-percent equity interest in Sonera Zed Ltd. in 2002 with an …

Internet portal Yahoo! dropped its stake in TeliaSonera’s Zed wireless data portal, but said it will continue to offer co-branded services with Zed across Europe. Yahoo! purchased a 15-percent equity interest in Sonera Zed Ltd. in 2002 with an option …

TOKYO-Struggling Internet company America Online Inc. and Japanese wireless data giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. announced they dissolved their widely touted joint venture, once heralded as way to promote “fixed-mobile convergence.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and neither company …

LAS VEGAS-Two new acquisitions highlight the potential of the wireless data market, as well as the growing valuations for the players involved. First, wireless data mainstay InfoSpace Inc. announced it purchased mobile media company Moviso from Vivendi Universal Net USA …

PARIS-Vivendi Universal and Vodafone Group plc, joint owners of a mobile operator in France that have each been vying to take full control of the company for months, said they will simplify the group’s ownership structure and increase their cooperation …

PARIS-Media giant Vivendi Universal is considering merging its French fixed-line and wireless companies into one telecom holding, according to international press reports. Vivendi would combine Cegetel, its fixed-line company, and SFR, its French mobile subsidiary. Both units are minority owned …

BONN, Germany-Deutsche Telekom has reached an agreement to take full control of Poland’s Polska Telefonya Cyfrowa after raising its offer by $113 million to $1.2 billion. Vivendi Universal will gain $780 million in the deal, while Elektrim will earn $451 …

Like ’70s disco or roller skates, the wireless portal is now retro cool. Dude. In the heyday of the late 1990s, the wireless industry was awash with the wireless Internet and the possibilities therein. Wireless players from carriers on down …

The exit of Sir Christopher Gent from the chief executive post at Vodafone marks a milestone for the company and the industry. Unlike many of his counterparts, Gent is stepping down from his post rather than being forced out. Gent, …

The exit of Sir Christopher Gent from the chief executive post at Vodafone certainly marks a milestone for the company and the industry. Unlike many of his counterparts, Gent has chosen to step down from his post rather than being …

PARIS-Vivendi Universal said it plans to buy BT Group’s 26-percent stake in Cegetel for $3.985 billion, removing control from Vodafone. In response, Vodafone withdrew its previous $6.75 billion offer to buy Vivendi’s 44-percent interest in Cegetel.

Record industry giant Sony Music Entertainment bought wireless entertainment company Run Tones, and will use the acquisition to create a new Mobile Products Group within Sony’s Music Digital Services division. Meanwhile, wireless application publisher Moviso L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary …

LOS ANGELES-Wireless application publisher Moviso LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Net USA, announced it will begin selling prepaid phone cards for buying ring tones through a lineup of more than 6,000 retail outlets, including 7-Eleven and Wherehouse …

MADRID, Spain-The Spanish government may be considering easing the terms of the country’s third-generation (3G) licenses, but it appears that even this move may not be enough to help one operator. Xfera has said it will not launch before 2004 …

LONDON-Vodafone Group plc has agreed with Vivendi Universal S.A on the dates during which Vivendi can pre-empt Vodafone’s bid for stakes in French operator Cegetel held by British Telecommunications plc and SBC Communications Inc. In addition, the London-based global mobile …

LONDON-Vivendi Universal is still convinced that Vodafone Group plc will come back with an improved offer for its stake in French operator Cegetel, after Vivendi rejected Vodafone’s initial $6.6 billion cash offer, even though there are no indications that a …

LONDON-Attempting to continue its acquisition path, Vodafone Group plc announced an agreement to acquire British Telecommunications plc’s and SBC Communications Inc.’s stakes in French company Cegetel for about $6.2 billion in cash. Cegetel owns 80 percent of French mobile operator …

Vizzavi’s wild ride seems to have come to an end. At least, sort of. Wireless giant Vodafone Group and media titan Vivendi Universal founded the European portal in January 2000 with a whopping US$1.6 billion investment. But Vizzavi, touted as …

LONDON-Rumors abound regarding the possible sale of Vivendi Universal’s stake in French mobile operator SFR to Vodafone Group. Vodafone has said it is interested in taking control of SFR, but not at any cost. Market analysts have valued SFR at …

LONDON-As expected, Vodafone Group plc has acquired Vivendi Universal’s 50-percent stake in the two companies’ mobile portal joint venture Vizzavi for $140.6 million. Vivendi was forced to sell the stake to help reduce its heavy debt load. Vodafone said it …

OXFORD, United Kingdom-While it has become accepted that Vodafone will take control of Vizzavi, its Internet portal joint venture with Vivendi, the transaction will need careful handling to ensure Vodafone does not alienate the struggling French conglomerate if Vodafone is …