Vodafone: Coulda beena contender

Link: Verizon may buy out Vodafone stake – Engadget Mobile.

As far as telecom deals go, Verizon’s plans to buy out Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless is dwarfed by AT&T’s planned acquisition of BellSouth. But the potential deal certainly sheds light on the changing fortunes of Vodafone, which was once a contender to buy AT&T Wireless (which was instead purchased by Cingular).

I didn’t bother writing a note about the Japanese unit sale.  Fair enough, they screwed up, they couldn’t get it all to work there, so they’re selling up.  But Verizon to buy out Vodafone?  Ooooh dear. 

No wonder Vodafone’s founder Sir Chris Gent apparently proposed voting against the re-election of Arun Sarin (his successor).  It appears Arin is supervising over a period of abject failure for Vodafone (‘failure’ in the context of making billions and still being one of the biggest mobile companies in the world).