The formal announcement from AT&T Co that it will be buying fewer of its personal computers from Ing C Olivetti & Co SpA will come as no surprise, because the two companies have been growing apart for a couple of years now, and although AT&T says only that it is looking for a US supplier for some of its personal computer needs, it is understood that it is already buying some 80386 boards from Intel Systems. It will still buy some models from Olivetti, but is now very unlikely to exercise its option to up its stake in Olivetti to 40% – indeed the eventual sale of its 21% existing holding is more likely, and Nokia Oy of Finland has already indicated that it would be a buyer.
