TELECOMMUNICATIONS: ALLIANCE BRINGS TOGETHER EUROPE'S SMALL OPERATORS.

The alliance aims to offer cross-border products and services, initially within the territories of its members, and cooperate on initiatives including technology, sourcing and sales. The group said customers will benefit from seamless GPRS and multimedia messaging services connectivity across the member networks, along with roaming and value-added services. As a next step, the operators plan to offer flat-rate price plans for voice and data services across the networks.

oWith the exception of O2 and Telenor, the new alliance contains some of Europes smaller operators, while all of them have mature domestic markets,o said Eden Zoller Ovum research director. oFor operators like these that are outside of the biggest groups, there is a risk of being left behinduon roaming, on international services, and on device specification and purchasing power.o

In addition to services, the new alliance will aim to leverage its combined strength to purchase terminals and other equipment, according to a statement released by mmO2, the UK mobile phone company that is spearheading the deal. MmO2 owns mobile phone networks in the Germany, Ireland and the U.K. Together, the still-unnamed alliance...