BRIEFLY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS : Vodafone May Revive Bell Atlantic Link

Vodafone AirTouch, the world’s largest wireless telephone company, said a link with Bell Atlantic Corp. is among the options it is considering as it looks to develop its U.S. operations. Shares of Britain-based Vodafone rose 3.86% after it confirmed it is in talks with Bell Atlantic, the No. 1 U.S. local phone company. The statement sparked optimism that the two companies will resurrect a wireless venture that ended last month. A new venture between Bell Atlantic and Vodafone could create a nationwide U.S. wireless network to compete with those of AT&T; Corp. and Sprint PCS. Vodafone vowed to build or buy new networks to extend its U.S. reach after its PrimeCo Personal Communications venture with Bell Atlantic ended. Bell Atlantic, which has 6.6 million wireless customers, decided in April to break up PrimeCo, three months after it lost a bidding war against Vodafone to buy AirTouch Communications Inc., Bell Atlantic’s original partner in PrimeCo. Vodafone completed its $74.4-billion purchase of AirTouch in June.