HighEndBuzz

Nokia and Siemans

Talk is cheaper for merger partners

By Andrew Parker in London

Published: June 19 2006 19:27 | Last updated: June 19 2006 19:27

Nokia and Siemens hailed their planned joint venture as creating the world’s third-biggest supplier of network equipment to telecoms companies, while analysts predicted more consolidation.

The move follows the merger agreement in April between Alcatel, France’s telecoms equipment maker, and Lucent, its US counterpart, to create the world’s biggest network infrastructure supplier. Last October, Ericsson, Sweden’s telecoms equipment maker, bought most of Marconi of the UK.

“Consolidation is the name of the game, therefore we believe it is the right move for us,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, chief executive of Siemens.

The telecoms carriers that are the network equipment manufacturers’ most important customers have been leading the consolidation charge. In March, AT&T, the US telephone company, announced plans to create the world’s biggest telecoms group by buying BellSouth, its smaller rival.

MTV just can't get it right...

I'm sure I'll get a lot of flak for writing this, but after watching some of the MTV Movie Awards, I'm a little confused (though I shouldn't be).  I know pushing a gay agenda is "cool" these days and Broke Back has quite a following.  But how did we go from this:

To This:

While ignoring this:

The man-grope in Brokeback was not hot.  Man kissing, just isn't all that sexy, unless you're a gay man; which is why you can appreciate at least one side of Brand and Angelina as well as the ever popular Spiderman episode. 

Dear MTV:  We get it.  We're with you on this.  Let's not take it too far now...OK?

Vonage IPO...

I wrote about this impending doom in February.  Vonage was never ready, nor did it have a good model to get profitable.  On with the lawyers.  Can't say I didn't warn you.

 Vonage IPO Woes Continue
By   Ed Sutherland
June 5, 2006

And now come the lawsuits.

First came Vonage's IPO, which was followed by a 30 percent tumble in the price. Then Vonage threatened to sue customers who got cold feet on buying into the IPO. Now the embattled VoIP provider faces a class-action lawsuit charging customers were "crammed into the Vonage IPO regardless of their suitability."

Investors were damaged by mistakes made by Vonage (Quote, Chart) and the IPO  underwriters, according to the lawsuit filed on Friday in a New  Jersey federal court. The lawsuit alleges a desperate Vonage and  underwriters, motivated by millions in fees, violated stock security rules.