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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Noreen on Apr 14, 2008, 18:09:01

Title: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Noreen on Apr 14, 2008, 18:09:01
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/a260b2a0-0a20-11dd-b5b1-0000779fd2ac.html
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:11:10
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?
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Cookiemonster on Apr 14, 2008, 18:12:38
I wouldn't be surprised if none of the big UK based ISP's put a bid in.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:18:39
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?
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Cookiemonster on Apr 14, 2008, 18:21:36
Yeah that's true. So what now? Foreign bidder?
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:22:45
Spanish, possibly...
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Cookiemonster on Apr 14, 2008, 18:26:42
And then the chances of Tiscali being saved and actually becoming a good ISP??  :pig:
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:32:35
Next to nothing, imo. Whoever buys will want a quick return, so they're unlikely to make the necessary investment. :(
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Noreen on Apr 14, 2008, 18:33:31
http://www.retail-week.com/2008/04/carphone_warehouse_interested_in_tiscali.html
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Malc on Apr 14, 2008, 18:34:47
Can you see Virgin lining up to buy it?

Richard does like underachieving companies, NTL and Northern Rock spring to mind.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:34:59
Quote from: Noreen on Apr 14, 2008, 18:33:31
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Malc on Apr 14, 2008, 18:35:27
Quote from: Noreen on Apr 14, 2008, 18:33:31
http://www.retail-week.com/2008/04/carphone_warehouse_interested_in_tiscali.html


The dreaded talktalk
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:36:17
Quote from: Malc on Apr 14, 2008, 18:34:47
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Cookiemonster on Apr 14, 2008, 18:38:53
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: David on Apr 14, 2008, 18:40:58
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  :fingers:
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:43:01
I wonder whether the price is fixed in the contract??  >:D
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: madasahatter on Apr 14, 2008, 19:29:03
Quote from: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 18:43:01
I wonder whether the price is fixed in the contract??  >:D

there'll be something nasty regarding price in the small print i would have thought  :(
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: David on Apr 14, 2008, 19:36:35
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  >:D
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: madasahatter on Apr 14, 2008, 19:38:28
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  >:D
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2008, 19:48:18
It would certainly fit with their business model, Mad...
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Malc on Apr 14, 2008, 19:49:07
Quote from: madasahatter on Apr 14, 2008, 19:38:28
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  >:D

It worked when they took over popex last October  ;D
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: madasahatter on Apr 14, 2008, 19:51:31
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
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: David on Apr 14, 2008, 20:03:14
The reason for the latest TV campaign perhaps must have captured a lot of new people ?
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Tacitus on Apr 14, 2008, 20:28:18
Quote from: jester212 on Apr 14, 2008, 18:38:53
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Cookiemonster on Apr 14, 2008, 20:39:35
Quote from: Tacitus on Apr 14, 2008, 20:28:18
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!
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Sebby on Apr 14, 2008, 21:42:17
Quote from: badpianoplayer on Apr 14, 2008, 20:03:14
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. :P
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: plugwash on Apr 16, 2008, 21:03:12
Quote from: jester212 on Apr 14, 2008, 18:38:53
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: drummer on Apr 16, 2008, 21:43:05
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.
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Inactive on Apr 17, 2008, 00:29:13
I read somewhere that Vodafone may be interested in Tiswas..  ;)
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Sebby on Apr 17, 2008, 08:32:19
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?!
Title: Re: Tiscali sale process to kick off this week
Post by: Rik on Apr 17, 2008, 10:42:58
Quote from: plugwash on Apr 16, 2008, 21:03:12
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. :(