Equant NV, an Amsterdam-based subsidiary of France Telecom SA, has signed outsourcing contracts with Universal Music Group and Getinge AB. Equant said its five-year deal with UMG covers the New York-based company's communications infrastructure. The seven-year contract with Sweden-based Getinge covers data management, fixed and mobile voice services, hosting and end-user support. Equant didn't disclose the value of either deal.

Hitachi Ltd. last week named Etsuhiko Shoyama, currently its president and CEO, as chairman, effective April 1. Tokyo-based Hitachi named Kazuo Furukawa, an executive vice president in charge of its systems business, to replace Shoyama as president.

Research In Motion Ltd. confirmed last week that it is in talks with Beijing-based China Mobile Communications Corp., about launching its BlackBerry wireless e-mail service in China. No timetable has been set for the launch, said RIM, which already offers the BlackBerry service in Hong Kong.

Global fact

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