Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Friday, January 21, 2011

Former Vivendi chief executive and Vizzavi chairman Jean-Marie Messier found guilty of misleading investors

Back in 2000, Vodafone and Vivendi created what they called a ‘multi-access portal’ that would offer internet services across TVs, PCs and mobile phones. It was named Vizzavi and was chaired by Vivendi’s Jean-Marie Messier for the first couple of years until Chris Gent took over in what was intended to be a ‘rotating’ position shared between the two partners.

But things didn’t work out as planned. Jean-Marie Messier – who’d helped transform Vivendi from a utility company into a media giant – was replaced by the board in 2002. A dramatic reorganisation followed as the French company tried to save money. By the end of 2002, it had sold its Vizzavi stake to Vodafone… and Vodafone had dumped the name. So ended Vizzavi.

In recent days, Jean-Marie Messier has been hitting the headlines again. He’s been in court to answer charges that he’d misled investors when in charge of Vivendi and had also misused company funds.

Today he’s been given a three-year suspended sentence and a  €150,000 fine after being found guilty of misappropriating company funds and divulging misleading information. Former Vivendi vice chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr has been given a 15 month suspended sentence and a 5 million euro fine for insider trading. Both men plan to appeal.

[More information: FT.com; ibtimes.com]

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Networks and operators, NewsNumber of views: 10618

Tags: vodafone legal internet

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Maybe mobile phone tariffs aren't a rip-off after all

Mark Bridge writes:

Oh, those nasty mobile networks. They're robbing us blind… at least, that's what you might think if you've been reading the headlines this week.

Mobile users 'overpaying by £200', said the BBC. £5bn 'wasted' on mobile phone bills, said the Financial Times. It's the wrong tariff, Gromit!, said Telecom TV after hitting the Wensleydale.

Author: The Fonecast
3 Comments
Article rating: No rating

The latest victim of mobile phones: Cisco's Flip video camera

Mark Bridge writes:

Mobile phones are vicious creatures. First they delivered a mortal blow to landline phones.

Emboldened, they began roaming the world looking for victims. They found plenty.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 9th April 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

We head into the weekend with the News of the World admitting voicemail hacking was more widespread than previously thought. Mobile networks had already made it much harder to access voicemail remotely… and now the NotW is saying sorry and preparing to pay compensation.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Demolition Man, meet the Apple iAd Gallery

Mark Bridge writes:

We all have guilty pleasures. One of mine is the sci-fi film Demolition Man. Sylvester Stallone is 20th-century police sergeant John Spartan, who finds himself fighting crime in 2032 alongside the delightful Lieutenant Lenina Huxley, played by Sandra Bullock.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 3rd April 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

Welcome to this week's news summary from TheFonecast.com.

In Wednesday's podcast Iain joked that we ought to have a regular Olympics news story because everyone else was talking about the event constantly. Well, following the headlines about introducing WiFi to tube stations in time for London 2012 comes another Olympic news story.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First7677787981838485Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement