UPDATE 1-Telefonica in 3 bln euro Vivo offer-FT

(Reuters) - Telefonica also does not rule out taking control of Telecom
Italia , Italy's largest telecoms company, the
newspaper reported.




Telefonica has told Portugal Telecom to respond to its offer
by August, Telefonica Chairman Cesar Alierta told the newspaper
in an interview.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Vodafone weighs on FTSE before rate verdict

(Reuters) - Britain's top share index fell on Thursday as losses in heavyweight Vodafone and a widely anticipated rate rise by the Bank of England outweighed gains in miners.

Vodafone, which until recently was the favourite to win a pan-European iPhone deal with Apple, fell 1.3 percent after UK newspapers said rival O2, a unit of Spain's Telefonica, was poised to clinch a deal to be the exclusive network partner for the much-hyped phone in the UK.


Read more at Reuters Africa

O2 set to win deal as UK partner for iPhone-papers

(Reuters) - The Times newspaper, without citing sources, said the final contract was expected to be signed imminently.




An O2 spokesman had no immediate comment. Telefonica declined to comment.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News