 
N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Mostly speculation This is mostly just speculation, probably floated by someone who owns a large chunk of stock.
But, it would make sense for Vodafone to make their move for the rest of Verizon wireless now. The US dollar tests new lows against British and European currencies daily, giving overseas investors an advantage as far as cash positions.
I seriously doubt Verizon would give up their stake voluntarily, though. A lot of time and money has been spent over the years to bolster Verizon's wireless image. I don't think they would just "walk away" from the wireless business...
--
Welcome to cat noise Wednsday!! | |
|
 | |
| | Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Mostly speculation I wouldnt' call it a BBR debacle, every news agency in the US reported this deal, over and over.
Other speculation was that Vodaphone was trying to prop up Verizon's share price, so Verizon could use an equity offering to buy out Vodaphone's stake in VZW. | |
|
| | |
N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Mostly speculation Yeah, I wouldn't call it a BBR debacle either. Most of the major wire services picked up this story.
The idea of improving VZW's stake by fluffing the stock price was something I didn't think of...
--
Welcome to cat noise Wednsday!! | |
|
| | | | 
phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Re: Mostly speculation said by N3OGH  :Yeah, I wouldn't call it a BBR debacle either. Most of the major wire services picked up this story. The idea of improving VZW's stake by fluffing the stock price was something I didn't think of... Well, I hope they DO buy Verizon. It would be nice to have a new name/company. Maybe the rates will go down on their rediculously high priced cell phone service. I loved their coverage, and internet speed, but hated the cost. They are CRAZY expensive...
--
SIPPhone/Gizmo # 17476200648 / PIMPNET Chatline / Ran by Asterisk & Slackware 10.1. | |
|
| | | | | 
NY Tel
Always 180 Degrees Out-of-Phase
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
 ·VOIPo
| Re: Mostly speculation said by phattieg :said by N3OGH :Yeah, I wouldn't call it a BBR debacle either. Most of the major wire services picked up this story. The idea of improving VZW's stake by fluffing the stock price was something I didn't think of... Well, I hope they DO buy Verizon. It would be nice to have a new name/company. Maybe the rates will go down on their rediculously high priced cell phone service. I loved their coverage, and internet speed, but hated the cost. They are CRAZY expensive... My fear is that they buy VZ Communications, keep VZ Wireless and sell The landline company to AT&T. Back to 1 monopoly.  | |
|
| | | | | |
N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Mostly speculation "My fear is that they buy VZ Communications, keep VZ Wireless and sell The landline company to AT&T. Back to 1 monopoly."
BITE YOUR TONGUE. GO ON, BITE IT. Bite it HARD.
I haaaaaaaate AT&T. Ever since they shafted me into paying their bogus bill.
Did I mention I hate AT&T?
--
Welcome to cat noise Wednsday!! | |
|
| | | | | | |
NY Tel
Always 180 Degrees Out-of-Phase
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| Re: Mostly speculation said by N3OGH :"My fear is that they buy VZ Communications, keep VZ Wireless and sell The landline company to AT&T. Back to 1 monopoly." BITE YOUR TONGUE. GO ON, BITE IT. Bite it HARD. I haaaaaaaate AT&T. Ever since they shafted me into paying their bogus bill. Did I mention I hate AT&T? No but tell us how you really feel....lol
I have predicted and feared this for years. Having been an insider at VZ......It is a possibility. | |
|
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
NY Tel
Always 180 Degrees Out-of-Phase
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY | Re: Mostly speculation .....And so ends competition, lower prices, free nights and weekends, mobile to mobile calling. | |
|
| | | | | | | | 
Bell System
Premium
join:2005-12-04
Strongsville, OH
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T CallVantage
| Re: Mostly speculation how would that end competition? at&t wireless and VZW would not be combined. And at&t landline and VZ landline compete at the highest levels, (much like at&t/bellsouth pre-merger)
Besides with a move like that, the existing unions in the "provitable" areas would most likely stay but as they would be merged w/ at&t who has both CWA & IBEW currently. | |
|
| | | | | | | | |
NY Tel
Always 180 Degrees Out-of-Phase
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| Re: Mostly speculation said by Bell System :how would that end competition? at&t wireless and VZW would not be combined. And at&t landline and VZ landline compete at the highest levels, (much like at&t/bellsouth pre-merger) Besides with a move like that, the existing unions in the "provitable" areas would most likely stay but as they would be merged w/ at&t who has both CWA & IBEW currently. It was just my gloom and doom sense of humor coming into play... | |
|
inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | Actually what would make more sense... ...is for Vodaphone to sell out their chunk of Verizon and buy T-mobile instead.
--
"WHEN THE LAUGH TRACK STARTS THEN THE FUN STARTS!" | |
|
| BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Re: Actually what would make more sense... said by inteller :...is for Vodaphone to sell out their chunk of Verizon and buy T-mobile instead. Id say the same, isn't vodaphone gsm based everywhere else ?
I mean really they would be the cadillac of wireless carriers if they could offer non rated roaming to even europe where they have coverage for american phones and vice versa.
--
"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" | |
|
| | Kevin Dupuy
join:2007-04-07
Addis, LA
| Re: Actually what would make more sense... I wish whether that happens or not T-Mobile could build out their network... the one thing keeping me to Cingular, besides their contract, is that T-Mobile's network isn't good around here... a friend of mine has T-Mobile and when it works... it works great... but often his signal is one bar or none at all... (though with 3 or more bars he gets better signal than I do with 5 bars on AT&T)
--
Because there is no patch for human stupidity. Or my DIRECTV Plus DVR. | |
|
| 
menumorut
BE an American.
join:2005-07-04
Queens Village, NY | ...as Vodafone got overbid by Orange (France telecom)in a bid for a Ya.com (Spanish ISP)formerly owned by parent of T-mobile, Deutsche Telecom.
--
Give the world changes at a pace it can absorb. | |
|
Agent_haito
join:2002-09-20
Winston Salem, NC | Hmm So would they pay $160billion in Euro's or Dollars? That's a nice chunk of change | |
|
| |
| 
sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ | If it is US dollars, that works out to "only" 79 billion pounds. | |
|
JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL
| Good bye Fios if this ever happens Not likely to happen but if it did, it would be good bye future Fios deployments. Vodaphone debt load would be so huge they would have a hard time funding any new Fios deployments.
--
»www.seabee.navy.mil | |
|
|
N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens WOW, I was reading the FT article.
That's a LOT of money moving around there. I mean STAGGERING.
Well, if it happens, I hope they hold off at least a little while. My CO is being fired for FiOS right now, and I'm on the outskirts of it. Town all ready signed a franchise agreement for TV, so I'm looking forward to having options other than Comcast...
--
Welcome to cat noise Wednsday!! | |
|
| |
| | 
Sabre
Di relung hatiku bernyanyi bidadari
join:2005-05-17
·Comcast
| Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens Verizon Wireless is a separate company, dealing in mobile phone services. They are jointly owned by Verizon and Vodafone (I believe the split is 55/45). They are not officially part of the Verizon company, but a half-owned subsidiary.
And frankly, I doubt this'll happen. But now that Vodafone is no longer the lead sponsor of Manchester United, I'd be okay with Vodafone being my cellphone company if it does. 
--
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Save American Soccer - Stop the MLS! | |
|
| |
| | JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL
1 edit | Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens said by DMS1 :said by JSRoman :Not likely to happen but if it did, it would be good bye future Fios deployments. Vodaphone debt load would be so huge they would have a hard time funding any new Fios deployments. I think you've got the wrong end of the stick. Vodaphone would only being buying the 60% or so of Verizon Wireless that they don't already own. They wouldn't be buying all of Verizon. Therefore, on the contrary, Verizon would suddenly have loads of cash that it could invest in FiOS. RTA, The 160 billion is for all of Verizon.
--
»www.seabee.navy.mil | |
|
| | | DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX
| Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens said by JSRoman :RTA, The 160 biliion is for all of Verizon. Yes - I realised that, which is why I deleted my original post. Vodaphone buying all of the Verizon doesn't make much sense, but them just buying Verizon Wireless would in my opinion make a lot of sense. | |
|
| | | bruins55
join:2007-06-17
Holderness, NH
| The 160 billion is not for all of Verizon...just the wireless portion of the company...but this part of the company is the part that makes the most money so why would they sell it....Verizon wireless is its own company...I work for Verizon on the landline side of the business and we still have to pay them for company owned cell phones. | |
|
| | | | 
biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI
| Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens said by bruins55 :The 160 billion is not for all of Verizon...just the wireless portion of the company...but this part of the company is the part that makes the most money so why would they sell it....Verizon wireless is its own company...I work for Verizon on the landline side of the business and we still have to pay them for company owned cell phones. Your not paying attention. Read the article again. This has been clarified in this thread. Vodaphone may pay $160 Billion for Verizon Communications not just Verizon Wireless.
They they would sell off your unit for about $80 Billion.
--
"Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them." -- George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four.
| |
|
| | | | |
Bell System
Premium
join:2005-12-04
Strongsville, OH | Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens to at&t.
just thought i'd throw that in to clarify. | |
|
| 
cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | This would have absolutely zero impact on FiOS anything. They are different companies under the same Verizon parent corporation umbrella.
--
Go Colts | |
|
| | DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX
| Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens said by cdru :This would have absolutely zero impact on FiOS anything. They are different companies under the same Verizon parent corporation umbrella. You made the same wrong assumption that I did. It appears that the $160B would be for all of Verizon - not just the balance of Verizon Wireless. | |
|
| | |
cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | Re: Good bye Fios if this ever happens So I did.
--
Go Colts | |
|
| |
| |
See 8 replies to this post |
|
Gilitar
join:2000-11-20
Mobile, AL | AT&T is watching Vodafone buys Verizon Communications and sells Verzion to AT&T keeping Verizon Wireless for themselves. In other news AT&T announces that FTTH is dead.  | |
|
|
inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | Re: AT&T is watching if Vodaphone stated they intend to take Verizon Wireless to WCDMA I would be all for this. Someone needs to save VW from its dead end technology.
--
"WHEN THE LAUGH TRACK STARTS THEN THE FUN STARTS!" | |
|
| | BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Re: AT&T is watching Sorry but ill keep the "dead end" technology. Seems to be working well for sprint on the data side and verizon on the voice side.
I like my pretty much go any where in the us and still have 3 bars service.
--
"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" | |
|
| | | 
DaveNJ
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey
·Comcast
·Patriot Media
·Cingular Wireless
| Re: AT&T is watching said by BosstonesOwn :Sorry but ill keep the "dead end" technology. Seems to be working well for sprint on the data side and verizon on the voice side. I like my pretty much go any where in the us and still have 3 bars service. Its Dead, Verizon has an ANSI core, which no matter must be brought out the dark ages. Sprint is going down the same dead end. I would love for Vodaphone to buy Verizon and convert to 3gsm.
--
Go courageously to do whatever you are called to do. fear nothing. - St. Francis de Sales
| |
|
Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs: | no way is Verizon going to sell out to vodafone. | |
|
| guppy_fish
Premium
join:2003-12-09
Lakeland, FL
·Verizon FIOS
·ViaTalk
| Re: no way said by Subaru :is Verizon going to sell out to vodafone. Um ... VZ is a publicly traded stock , anyone can "buy out" VZ ... just buy the shares on the open market | |
|
| | 
P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
Premium
join:2001-08-29
Cromwell, CT
clubs:
| Re: no way said by guppy_fish :said by Subaru :is Verizon going to sell out to vodafone. Um ... VZ is a publicly traded stock , anyone can "buy out" VZ ... just buy the shares on the open market so much to learn so little time.
hardly this easy. Esp for a foreign company
--
www.stopfcc.comI do not think the government needs to restrict free speech especially on a device that has an off knob. | |
|
|
| 
quetwo
That VoIP Guy
Premium
join:2004-09-04
East Lansing, MI | Re: Unloading the wireline buisness Only in certain (read: unprofitable) areas. | |
|
ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16
Stratford, CT | ummm yea.. Theres no way Verizon is selling off its wireless business. | |
|
| |
rock56
@optonline.net | thanks to the falling dollar thanks to record lows of the dollar, buying verizon in british pounds just got cheaper! | |
|
pepperxn
join:2001-02-21
| vz I don't know why vodafone would want a wireless company that uses a different technology they're using. yes, the most likely thing would be for vodafone to buy t-mobile, or sell the stake in vzw and leave it at that.
If they sell off their wireline, that includes verizon business/mci. Who knows, if this buyout is allowed, then at&t may be allowed to buy verizon. Can you imagine that? The article mentions private equity (PE) would get Verizon, but I don't see PE paying $90 billion or so for their wireline, unless a couple PEs team up.
Who knows... maybe Qwest could buy part of Verizon. Qwest was already making an offer for MCI that was almost double the size of the company, so would they do so again? (buy almost half of VZ).
I made a comment a while back in a VZ story that some investors fear that Verizon might spin off their wireline. PE owning them would probably result in the end of fios. AT&T owning them might result in something else. I'd say that there's a better chance that AT&T would keep FTTH over PE keeping it. AT&T can't quit FTTH/FTTN, because of the threat of cable companies. This was always something that investors feared, Verizon getting bought. | |
|
Hydroshock
join:2002-09-12
Colorado Springs, CO
| Doubt Vodafone is buying I think it would be more likely that Vodafone is selling their Verizon (VZ is their stock ticker) share.
Vodafone has been taking losses the past few years and could use the money to re-structure their core company.
As for the post about the stock being publicly traded and easily 'bought out' there are a few legal preceedings as far American Anti-trust laws. Also they wouldn't be able to buy stock that's not available on the open market
»moneycentral.msn.com/ownership?Symbol=VZ
shows the stock ownership, likely those large portions aren't on the market for sale.
In other news
»www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/···142.html
Vodafone has denied the claims. | |
|
jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs: | vodofone does vodafone have that kind of money? maybe if they did we would get a more unified gsm service here.
--
www.LakeSemaJ.com | |
|
| nozzer
join:2004-06-25
Waltham, MA
| Re: vodofone Vodafone briefly traded as the worlds largest company back in the pre dot bomb days. And with the US dollar in the toilet thanks to 7 years of mismanagement (Gov spending has grown 42% since 2000) and borrowing, $160bn is now less than 80bn GBP.
Although the denials are firm, aside from the likely government interference, financially it's perfectly doable for Vodafone. | |
|
Dread
Back to windows finally.
Premium
join:2005-02-28
irc | Win/Win for VZW This would be a great benefit for VZW users, they'll now have updated phones and not 3 year old junk tech to deal with
Vodaphone gets many phones of very high quality like Japan & Korea
--
. | |
|
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| shareholder value there is (almost) NO WAY shareholders would agree to the reverse.. vodafone has been a thorn in Verizon's side since their joining forces.. unfortunately for Verizon when they first had become Verizon, they had delusions of grandeur of becoming this global MONSTER of an international telecommunications company with wireless assets all over the world.. My, oh my how the mightily laid plans of global conglomerates fail so dearly.. nevertheless, Verizon is stuck with Vodafone and it's going to cost more than few payphone quarters get to this cash guzzling monkey off their back.
Maybe Verizon can "UP THE BID" and buy back a little at a time for a higher ultimate price.. seems fair.. as short of signing the death warrant for their union workers, price gouging a majority of their territories and selling ALL the unprofitable ones-- this deal flushes down the toilet. BTW, I didn't even have to look at the books of the respective companies to tell you this. Most of what I've said could be gleaned from their own press releases over the years.
| |
|
dowhattowho
@alltel.net | $70 Billion for wireless Why would Vodaphone put such a low value on its 45% share of VerizonWireless, using Vodaphone numbers,Verizon can buyout the 45% share for $31.5 billion. | |
|
qworster
join:2001-11-25
Los Angeles, CA | US regulators probably won't allow this... Remember what happened when we tried to sell our ports to a foreign company. There's no way the FCC would approve this...and even if they did, Congress would probably step in. | |
|
| ricep5
Premium
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL | Re: US regulators probably won't allow this... Agreed. Foreign ownership rules would apply. Vodaphone would have to change their corporate charter to Delaware and remake their BoD.
This rumor has to climb a long hill before getting any traction. | |
|
emply
@verizon.com
| Verizon does away with union employees Verizon, Verizon Wireless, & Verizon Business are seperate companies. Verizon wants to get rid of the "Union Jobs" which are the Verizon Res jobs, they want to keep verizon wireless and business because they would not have to pay us union wages or give us 401k, medical, dental, vision, prescription benefits. | |
|
|
See 7 replies to this post |
|
Xela19115
join:2000-10-06
Richboro, PA
·Verizon FIOS
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| I don't believe US government will allow this... I don't think this will happen. I mean the whole out buyout of Verizon. Verizon is one of the prime subcontractors to the US government (read DoD, CIA, FBI and NSA among others). No way the federal government will let a foreign company to buy an American telecom company. There is actually maybe a law that actually forbids a foreign ownership of a strategic assets. Telecommunications infrastructure companies qualify for that just like military contractors.
--
--------------------------------
xela19115 | |
|
|
N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: I don't believe US government will allow this... I'm hearing this more and more.
The Govt. has too much of a vested interest in Verizon remaining an American company.
Even if Vodafone makes a bit, I don't see the DOJ and SEC approving it...
--
Welcome to cat noise Wednsday!! | |
|
| | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Teliax VOIP
| Re: I don't believe US government will allow this... said by N3OGH :I'm hearing this more and more. The Govt. has too much of a vested interest in Verizon remaining an American company. Even if Vodafone makes a bit, I don't see the DOJ and SEC approving it... There's no real national security interest here. With the ports, there was at least a rational basis for thinking that there was.
Does everyone forget that T-Mobile is owned by Deutsch Telekom?
I'd love for Vodaphone to buy out Verizon and switch to GSM and 3GSM. Why? Not because of the better roaming opportunities out west (although that would be a bonus!), but because it would make the US 3G market big enough for Nokia and Sony Ericsson to start releasing decent phones with the US 3G bands.
The only thing more pathetic than Verizon's phone offerings are the phones available with UMTS on the US bands. I want an E90 with US 3G!  | |
|
| | | sameshtdd
join:2006-01-04
Teaneck, NJ
| Re: I don't believe US government will allow this... said by wierdo :said by N3OGH :I'm hearing this more and more. The Govt. has too much of a vested interest in Verizon remaining an American company. Even if Vodafone makes a bit, I don't see the DOJ and SEC approving it... There's no real national security interest here. With the ports, there was at least a rational basis for thinking that there was. Does everyone forget that T-Mobile is owned by Deutsch Telekom? I'd love for Vodaphone to buy out Verizon and switch to GSM and 3GSM. Why? Not because of the better roaming opportunities out west (although that would be a bonus!), but because it would make the US 3G market big enough for Nokia and Sony Ericsson to start releasing decent phones with the US 3G bands. The only thing more pathetic than Verizon's phone offerings are the phones available with UMTS on the US bands. I want an E90 with US 3G! T-Mobile also doesn't control the landines in the Washington DC area, have major telecommunications contracts with the Federal Goverment in key departments that would NOT want a foreign entity controlling them.
You think airline ownership rules for airlines are bad. Just let any foreign entity try and bid for VZ (as a whole). The flag will be wrapped around VZ faster than the port issue. | |
|
| | | | wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Teliax VOIP
| Re: I don't believe US government will allow this... said by sameshtdd :T-Mobile also doesn't control the landines in the Washington DC area, have major telecommunications contracts with the Federal Goverment in key departments that would NOT want a foreign entity controlling them. You think airline ownership rules for airlines are bad. Just let any foreign entity try and bid for VZ (as a whole). The flag will be wrapped around VZ faster than the port issue. You think that would get in the way of Vodaphone? They don't want the wireline business. They'd probably do a merger with an immediate spinoff or sale of the landline assets.
Verizon itself might try to wrap the flag around itself, but the FCC isn't that stupid, nor is Vodaphone. They'd point out that they don't want the landline business anyway and still get their way. | |
|
| | | | | sameshtdd
join:2006-01-04
Teaneck, NJ
| Re: I don't believe US government will allow this... said by wierdo :said by sameshtdd :T-Mobile also doesn't control the landlines in the Washington DC area, have major telecommunications contracts with the Federal Goverment in key departments that would NOT want a foreign entity controlling them. You think airline ownership rules for airlines are bad. Just let any foreign entity try and bid for VZ (as a whole). The flag will be wrapped around VZ faster than the port issue. You think that would get in the way of Vodaphone? They don't want the wireline business. They'd probably do a merger with an immediate spinoff or sale of the landline assets. Verizon itself might try to wrap the flag around itself, but the FCC isn't that stupid, nor is Vodaphone. They'd point out that they don't want the landline business anyway and still get their way. Not too sure about that. How many government organizations have VZW as their service provider? I would venture a great number. Its one thing to buy a one of the smallest national wireless companies. Its another thing to buy the 2nd largest wireless telephone company that has strong financial and political ties to the government. This if it happens will be a fight. | |
|
compton
join:2002-02-08
Brooklyn, NY
| Verizon will not sell out to Vodafone Two Things.
(1) Verizon can't be bought over unless Verizon Board Of Directors agree to a buyout. Companies the size of Verizon have "nasty poison pills" to fend off hostile takeovers and as such can't really be taken over unless they want to be taken over. I am 100% certain that Verizon wants to remain an independent company and does not want to be taken over.
(2) Verizon Wireless is very profitable. VW added 1.7 million new customers in the first quarter of this year while seeing a 10% drop in churn from a year ago. If anything I would guess Verizon wants to buy out Vodafone 45% stake in Verizon Wireless. Vodafone is probably using reverse psychology by saying Verizon's share of VW is worth 80 billion dollars US meaning.....give us (Vodafone) 80 billion and you can have our 45% stake. | |
|
|
|
|
|
Vodafone May Offer $160 Billion for Verizon
geesh...