Tiscali sale process to kick off this week

[Noreen]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a260b2a0-0a20-11dd-b5b1-0000779fd2ac.html

[Rik]

I'll be interested to see who bids, if anyone. Given the pressures in the mass-ISP markets at the moment, I wouldn't have thought too many people would be rushing to invest, but what do I know?

[Cookiemonster]

I wouldn't be surprised if none of the big UK based ISP's put a bid in.

[Rik]

Me neither. If they did, they'd probably face a competition enquiry and Tiscali has never made a profit, so what is there to buy?

[Cookiemonster]

Yeah that's true. So what now? Foreign bidder?

[Rik]

Spanish, possibly...

[Cookiemonster]

And then the chances of Tiscali being saved and actually becoming a good ISP?? 

[Rik]

Next to nothing, imo. Whoever buys will want a quick return, so they're unlikely to make the necessary investment.

[Noreen]

http://www.retail-week.com/2008/04/carphone_warehouse_interested_in_tiscali.html

[Malc]

Can you see Virgin lining up to buy it?

Richard does like underachieving companies, NTL and Northern Rock spring to mind.

[Rik]

http://www.retail-week.com/2008/04/carphone_warehouse_interested_in_tiscali.html

I just wonder how they will (a) finance it and (b) get it past the regulators. I suppose the latter may be possible, but with AOL already in their portfolio, it will give them dominance.

[Malc]

http://www.retail-week.com/2008/04/carphone_warehouse_interested_in_tiscali.html

The dreaded talktalk

[Rik]

Can you see Virgin lining up to buy it?

Possible, but again the regulatory position would be interesting - particularly given Virgin is the only alternative to ADSL.

[Cookiemonster]

It's so funny but all these big names are actually rubbish at providing a decent ADSL service. In fact i can't think off the top of my head of ANY big UK ISP's that are any good.

[David]

I'm so glad I got out when I did,there are so many locked in and with the latest ads running I expect there will be thousands just joined up,it cant get any worse for them surely.hope not for their sakes 

[Rik]

I wonder whether the price is fixed in the contract?? 

[madasahatter]

I wonder whether the price is fixed in the contract?? 

there'll be something nasty regarding price in the small print i would have thought 

[David]

Possibly tied in for 12 months whether or not you can downgrade in this time I am not sure I was never offered this option until after the 12 months so could have a sting in the tail 

[madasahatter]

the best way to get out of your contract with Tiscali was to download anything and everything, thus get well and trully FUPped, and get offered your mac to get rid of you. Don't know if that still works 

[Rik]

It would certainly fit with their business model, Mad...

[Malc]

the best way to get out of your contract with Tiscali was to download anything and everything, thus get well and trully FUPped, and get offered your mac to get rid of you. Don't know if that still works 

It worked when they took over popex last October 

[madasahatter]

thing is, with them looking for buyers at the moment, they may well be a little more reluctant to let peeps go - obviously their "strength" is the large user base that they have

[David]

The reason for the latest TV campaign perhaps must have captured a lot of new people ?

[Tacitus]

It's so funny but all these big names are actually rubbish at providing a decent ADSL service. In fact i can't think off the top of my head of ANY big UK ISP's that are any good.

O2/Be aren't bad apparently.  Whether Telefonica Esp - O2s parent company - would be interested in buying Tiscali, is another matter.  Can't see any reason why they would given the shambles they would inherit.

[Cookiemonster]

O2/Be aren't bad apparently.  Whether Telefonica Esp - O2s parent company - would be interested in buying Tiscali, is another matter.  Can't see any reason why they would given the shambles they would inherit.

Only if you can get them. They only have 1,004 unbundled exchanges with another 400 pending!

[Sebby]

The reason for the latest TV campaign perhaps must have captured a lot of new people ?

For those that know nothing about the company, it certainly seems like a good deal. But, if you apply the rule that if it seems too good to be true then it is, you should avoid them anyway.

[plugwash]

ANY big UK ISP's that are any good.

SKY are apparently pretty good. If I actually owned the place I lived I would certainly consider thier offers (I like certain pay TV channels as well, in my flat at the moment i'm on virging cable). The main downside of SKY is you have to take a bundle to get thier broadband service but thier bundles look quite attractive.

BE are apparently the fastest broadband (defined here as packages that are affordable to home/small buisness users, not really expensive stuff like leased lines)provider in the country and thier prices aren't too bad either. O2 (be's parent company) also sell be's service under different prices and terms.

All the BT wholesale based providers suffer from the fact that BTs pricing structure means they can't offer a fast unlimited package at a price most people are prepared to pay. So you either get traffic limited packages (e.g. plusnet, IDNETs lower packages), so called unlimited but horriblly congested packages (most of the big BT wholesale based providers) or the occasional very expensive real unlimited package (e.g. IDNET max premium).

SKY and BE being LLU providers don't suffer from this problem.

[drummer]

Tiswas are now offering a free* wireless router to all existing customers.

Not only is it locked into Tiswas, but most of the user options are disabled.  What a marvellous example of benevolence from an exemplary ISP whose only purpose is to enhance the web experience for all its happy customers (where's that damned sarcasm smiley when you need it?).




*12 month renewal of existing contract applies.

[Inactive]

I read somewhere that Vodafone may be interested in Tiswas.. 

[Sebby]

If Vodafone had anything to do with an ISP, I could see them branding Internet Explorer heavily. Have you seen what they do to their mobiles?!

[Rik]

All the BT wholesale based providers suffer from the fact that BTs pricing structure means they can't offer a fast unlimited package at a price most people are prepared to pay.

Which is as a result of an Ofcom ruling.