Discussions are under way between Nokia Oy’s Nokia Data unit and Ing C Olivetti SpA that could result in a comprehensive alliance and product exchange agreement – but nobody at either company was available yesterday to give any details of the scope of the talks or the state they have reached. At minimum it seems likely that Nokia Data will market Olivetti products in its Scandinavian stronghold – Olivetti has been making strenuous efforts this year to expand its Scandinavian interests this year, and it may well either acquire or take a stake in some of Olivetti’s Scandinavian subsidiaries. It is also possible that the two may agree a similar arrangement in reverse in countries where Olivetti is strong and Nokia is present but weak, but there is no information on whether or not cross-shareholdings are involved.
