New Mobile News podcast now online

We're celebrating a hundred podcast episodes from TheFonecast.com this week. We take a look back at our first broadcast in July 2006 and also catch up on news headlines from the last couple of weeks. In addition, we chat to John Browning from 20:20 Logistics about the restructuring that'll see 20:20, Dextra Solutions and Caudwell Logistics turned into a single distribution business. Plus there's a preview of the Samsung i8510 8-megapixel 'innov8' camera phone. You can download or listen at TheFonecast.com and on the Mobile News website... and you'll find us on iTunes and via RSS too.

20:20 Mobile to restructure

20:20 Mobile is going to restructure its handset and accessories units, combining the administrative functions of 20:20 with its Dextra accessories business. The two brands will remain separate, although they're expected to be given new logos later this year. There are likely to be redundancies throughout the businesses when the restructure has been completed. [Source: Mobile News]

Takeovers not happening

Phones International Group has had its £120 million bid for rival distributor 20:20 Mobile rejected. And across the channel, France Telecom has abandoned its bid for Scandinavian telecoms giant TeliaSonera. [Sources: Mobile News; IHT.com]

20:20 to be taken over by Phones International?

Mobile distributor 20:20 could be taken over by Phones International, according to a report in The Times.

20:20 restructures its debt

Around half of distributor 20:20 Mobile is apparently being taken over by two of the banks that lent current owner Doughty Hanson the money to buy it in the first place. The £175 million deal, which also sees Doughty Hanson making a £15 million investment, will reduce 20:20's debt by about two-thirds. Doughty Hanson bought 20:20 for £347 million from the Caudwell Group in September 2006. [Sources: Mobile News; FT.com]

20:20 and Dextra to merge?

20:20 Mobile could merge its handset distribution business with the Dextra accessory business next year, according to reports. A single Managing Director is expected to be put in place of the new organisation as part of a restructure in 2009. Finance, HR, customer care and credit control functions are already shared between the two businesses. [Source: MobileToday.co.uk]

Changes at the top for O2 and 20:20

Telefonica, O2's parent company, has promoted its UK Chief Financial Officer Ronan Dunne to become CEO of the UK business. This follows Matthew Key's recent upward move from UK CEO to Chairman and Chief Executive of Telefónica O2 Europe.

Elsewhere, the 20:20 Group has appointed Meinie Oldersma as its new chief executive. He joins from technology distributor Ingram Micro and will replace Mark Ryan who left in October.

[Sources: O2 press release, Mobile News]