LONDON-As expected, Vodafone Group plc has acquired Vivendi Universal’s 50-percent stake in the two companies’ mobile portal joint venture Vizzavi for $140.6 million. Vivendi was forced to sell the stake to help reduce its heavy debt load.
Vodafone said it will continue to focus Vizzavi’s operations on providing multimedia entertainment-led consumer content. Vizzavi, which was established two years ago and sealed Vodafone’s takeover of Mannesmann AG, has been a key component of Vodafone’s mobile Internet initiatives.
Vodafone said it now owns 100 percent of Vizzavi, with the exception of Vizzavi France, which is wholly owned by the French-based Vivendi.
Vodafone also announced plans to launch multimedia messaging services in Sweden, allowing customers to send color photos, sounds and text from their wireless handsets. After a special introductory period, customers will be charged 51 cents to send an MMS.
