With more than 145 million landline and mobile customers in Europe, Latin America and Africa, Madrid, Spain-based Telefónica S.A. is one of the world's largest mobile, Internet and landline access providers.Today, Telefónica is announcing it is acquiring U.K.-based O2 - the wireless business that was spun off by BT (formerly Birtish Telecom) in 2001. O3 has 24.6 million subscribers in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Purchase price is about $31 billion U.S.
O2 currently carries four BlackBerry models- the BlackBerry 7730, BlackBerry 7290, BlackBerry 7230, and BlackBerry 7100x. That roster, plus O2's service plans, should not change as a result of the acquisition.
Both companies say that O2's current management will continue to operate the business, which will retain its brand and its headquarters in the UK.
