BUSINESS
In the papers 09 October
09-10-2000
by
All eyes on Vodafone/Eircell talks | BT may spin off mobile division in November
Monday's papers are preoccupied with the report in the Sunday Times that Vodafone is close to purchasing Eircom mobile subsidiary Eircell. Most papers report that the takeover rumour could boost the shareprice of Eircom, which closed at EUR2.46 on Friday. The Sunday Times report said that Vodafone is in negotiations to buy all or part of Eircell, which is valued at around EUR4 billion and is one of the most lucrative divisions of Eircom. Last week Vodafone paid STG1.7 billion for a 2 percent stake in China Mobile.
The Sunday Times also reported that a "wholesale" breakup by British Telecommunications is now planned as the telco seeks to address concerns of shareholders. The break-up could come as early as November, and would see BT separating its profitable mobile and Internet divisions from its regulated domestic business. BT's share price was buoyed on Friday following the announcement that finance director Robert Brace would resign from the firm.
The Irish Times reports that relocation packages of IEP30,000 are being offered by some high-tech firms who are seeking to get overseas workers to come to Ireland. Motorola offers packages of between IEP5,000 and IEP30,000 depending on circumstances, the paper said, quoting Motorola recruitment specialist Siobhan Homan. This weekend FAS conducted its first exhibition in Eastern Europe and also launched JobsIreland.com, a new site bringing employers and jobseekers together.
The Irish Examiner reports that Anam Software is seeking second round funding of between IEP5 million and IEP10 million following the launch of Wireless Window, a tool to permit intranet access by mobile workers using wireless devices. The paper said that Anam has already sold the product to two wireless sports portals for mobile delivery of sports information, and that the company could double its workforce to 40 by the end of 2001.
The paper also reports on Esat Digifone's new series of nationwide breakfast seminars, which begins Tuesday in Cork. The series will highlight mobile solutions including vehicle tracking, mobile marketing, remote database updates, high speed data transfer and the Digifone Dol service.
The Sunday Business Post, finally, quotes entrepreneur Declan Ganley as saying that all voice and some data calls will be offered free in the future. Ganley, who spoke at a Lucent Technologies seminar last week, said that telcos will be forced to offer innovative new services after unbundling of the local loop is enforced.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 