Global operator strategies - 10/12/05

Microsoft and Time Warner could be nearing deal to build online advertising service to compete with Google. In spite of having difficulties to find an agreement on assets (Microsoft still interested in some AOL assets), both giants could sign a deal on advertising and online research. The main results should be AOL to stop using Google for online research. It seems, however, that similar talks are engaged between Time Warner and Google. Time Warner reiterated that it isn't attempting to sell AOL.

Wengo, the French Neuf Telecom affiliate, launches video VOIP services. The service is free of charge between PCs, and will compete with Skype2.0. The main advantages of Wengo is the image quality and be open standard-based. Interoperability is what consumers want, and Skype does not provide it.

Virgin Mobile unanimously rejects NTL bid as too low. Richard Branson does not close the door, but just ask for a better offer, from NTL .... or somebody else. Branson said he is confident that NTL' s bid will go ahead.

Virgin Group is talking with a Chinese operator (Perhaps China Telecom or China Unicom) to set up a mobile telecom JV in next few years.

China could likely select MPEG-4 as its IPTV coding standard before the end of the year.

Romanian Regulatory Authority for Communications (ANRC) plans to install telecentres in rural regions of Romania. This program plans to cover about 41,000 people in 33 small villages. The telecentres will be provided with telephone, computers and a fax machine.

Microsoft is in talks with Reliance (India) for cooperation on next-generation IP-based television services in India.

Digital TV penetration in the UK rose to 66% in U.K. households in Q3.

Telenor increased its stake in UCOM (Thailand) to 86%.