IBM Corp, which retired from telecommunications with a very bloody nose after losing lots of money on Satellite Business Systems, and lots more on its Rolm Co acquisition, may be about to try again. Italian state telecommunications holding company Stet SpA said it was considering opportunities for co-operation with the IBM in response to a report in La Stampa that the two were trying to put together a global and strategic alliance that would encompass joint bids to become the second telephone operators in countries whose closed markets will be opened up to competition, and said the plans went beyond the formation of simple joint ventures. Stet said any agreement would be open to third parties, but denied suggestions that other Italian groups were involved at this stage.
