Global operator strategies - 18/06/05

Iberia, Spanish airline, will offer email and web chat services to business class passengers from mid-June, for $10 per flight.

Versatel Telecom and Belgacom said they have ended talks on a strategic cooperation.

Alfa (Russia) is in talks to increase its stake in GSM operator Uzmakom (Ukraine) to 100%. In a separate announcement, Alfa said it intends to pursue majority control in Vimpelcom (Russia) only if Telenor begin to build a greater stake in the company.

Yahoo confirmed a deal to acquire VOIP provider Dialpad Communications and make its enter in the VOIP fray. The acquisition puts Yahoo into head-to-head competition with Skype.

After BT and some other initiatives, DT will introduce a handset telephone that operates both on a land line and a mobile phone network (cellular/UMA convergence)

Ireland has announced that it is offering a tender for a fourth 3G license.

Bridge Mobile Alliance, an alliance encompassing eight Asia Pacific mobile operators, serving a combined subscriber base of 64 million, aims to facilitate a regional mobile infrastructure. The big surprise of the week is CSL (attached to Telstra) joining the Alliance, and becoming SingTel Optus partner, a Telstra rival.

McLeodUSA and YAK Communications service providers got delisting notices.

KPN is named as potential tele.ring bidder (Austria) among three other contenders.