Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Group, France Telecom and Apple

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CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day
the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting
stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include:
Telefonica (NYSE: TEF), Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT), Vodafone Group (NYSE: VOD),
France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Get the most recent insight
from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter:
http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579

Here are highlights from Monday`s Analyst Blog:

Battle for T-Mobile UK Heats Up

An intense bidding war for the number one spot in the British wireless industry
is shaping up as Spanish telecom giant Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) has been
reportedly evaluating a potential acquisition of T-Mobile UK, the British
subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE: DT). This strategic step came in response
to Vodafone Group`s (NYSE: VOD) recently revealed acquisition plan of T-Mobile
UK in an effort to lead the UK mobile market.

Moreover, France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) may also join the league of bidders as it
is currently exploring a joint-venture opportunity with Deutsche Telekom`s UK
unit. Any of these deals, should they materialize, will radically change the
competitive landscape of the British mobile market.

Deutsche Telekom is currently negotiating with European telecom operators to
divest its T-Mobile UK unit, which contends with subscriber retention problems.
The company`s profitability in the first quarter of 2009 was affected by an
impairment loss of €1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) registered at T-Mobile UK.

The UK wireless market is characterized by aggressive competition among five
major operators battling for market share and customer retention. Currently,
Telefonica leads the market through its UK subsidiary O2 with approximately 27%
share, followed by Vodafone (25%), France Telecom`s Orange (22%) and T-Mobile UK
(15%).

Telefonica (O2 UK) surpassed Vodafone to become the leader in the UK mobile
market in 2006 and further consolidated its position by winning the contract to
exclusively distribute Apple`s (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhones in the UK. However,
revenue per user and subscriber growth levels have decelerated at O2 UK in the
most recent quarter due to a weak economy, regulatory pressure and intense
competition.

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