Gerstner hedges bet with channel

IBM chairman and chief executive Lou Gerstner said this week that it was continuing to 'place our bets' on the channel, calling IBM partners one of the fastest growing large businesses in the world. Gerstner, talking at Business Partner Executive Conference in New Orleans, also said the vendor would begin to favour business partners who lead with IBM systems end-to-end and develop them as the vendor evolves its structure and focus.

Olivetti makes hostile bid Olivetti has launched a $58 billion hostile bid for Italy's former telecommunications monopoly, Telecom Italia. To help in its bid, Mannesmann said it will give Olivetti DM14.9 billion, in return for the Italian's stake in two of the country's telecoms providers - Italian mobile operator, Omnitel, plus 50 per cent of fixed line provider, Infostrada.