Yahoo eyes Sonera's Zed

NEWS Sonera's mobile portal Zed could well be the target of an eventual takeover by Yahoo in a move which would ease the Finnish telco's debt problems. The WSJ Europe today cites people "familiar with the situation" saying the US internet giant could be about to purchase as much as 30 per cent of Zed with a further investment possible. Zed operates around the world and is seen as one of the more successful mobile portals, providing a single location for mobile and fixed users to access various services and information. Vivendi-Vodafone joint venture Vizzavi and Deutsche Telekom's T-Motion have both struggled to find a foothold. Meanwhile, Scandinavian rival Speedy Tomato, set up by Sweden's Telia, ceased operating last year. Sonera is set to merge with Telia in a E6.9bn deal, representing the first tie up between two incumbents in Europe.