Global operator strategies -04/07/07

Telecom Italia sold its 10% stake in Oger Telecom to Saudi Oger for $744m. Oger Telecom is the largest stakeholder in the Turkish incumbent, Turk Telecom.

Nielsen is acquiring Telephia, a European-based telecom-tracking firm on customer satisfaction, customer retention, brand image and mystery shopping.

AT&T is buying Dobson Communications ( rural operator in the USA) for $2.8bn in cash.

Virgin Media (UK) has received an $11.5bn offer from Carlyle Group.

SK Telecom and EarthLink intend to invest $100m each in Helio, their JV MVNO.

BCE (Canada) has agreed a $48.5 buyout offer (including debt) from a consortum led by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners Inc. and Madison Dearborn Partners, but keeps options open such as a new bid from Telus.

Half a million iPhones have been sold in few days by Apple and AT&T

Sopra Group (France) has acquired Methosystem, an Italian company focused on systems integration for banks.

Google buys GrandCentral Communications, a startup that allows users to manage their separate phones and voicemail accounts over a single Web interface