LONDON, Jan 11 (AFP) - Vodafone AirTouch telecoms group unveiled plans to offer global Internet access through its phones Tuesday in a move it hoped would convince shareholders of Mannesmann, the German conglomerate, to accept its hostile takeover bid.
Vodafone chief executive Chris Gent said in light of the announcement that there was no need to raise his company's bid of about $130 billion euros for Mannesmann. He said that Vodafone plans to launch its mobile phone link to the Internet in July, giving its existing 35 million subscribers the capacity to log on in any of the 24 countries covered by its telephone network.
Taking an opportunity to lure Mannesmann, Gent said that the future riches from joining a global Internet partnership linking Vodafone to the IBM and Sun Microsystems computer giants should be enough to convince shareholders to accept his bid. He said, "We are opening a new chapter in the development of the Internet and invite Mannesmann shareholders to join us in adding a fourth 'W' to the World Wide Web. From now on, it will be the World Wide Wireless Web."
He outlined plans to allow users to book flights, trade shares and tap into the vast information pool offered by the Internet through Vodafone handsets. Mannesmann, said Gent, would provide the Germanic link in this global development. "We don't believe we have to increase our offer. It's a very strong offer. Mannesmann is a good company, as is Vodafone AirTouch. We've both got outstanding growth prospects, particularly in the wireless internet market," he told the BBC.
"We'd like Mannesmann to join us in providing those services to the German, Italian and Austrian public, so we do believe it's a very strong part of our platform to say to Mannesmann shareholders come and join this very exciting future."
Vodafone said that it expects revenue per user to increase by 30 percent by 2004. The telecoms group made an initial bid in November but improved the terms to between $130 billion and $140 billion, marking a record when it unveiled details officially on December 23.
The British group is offering 53.7 Vodafone shares for every share held in the German company. Mannesmann shareholders have until February 7 to make up their mind, where Mannesmann itself has until Friday to respond officially to the Vodafone bid.
After an initial warm welcome given by the markets, Vodafone stock succumbed to a generally weak London market to fall by two pence to 299 pence in late afternoon trading here 
Newswires
