Vivendi Universal is likely to offload its stake in the business and take a huge write-off, amid speculation that chairman Jean-Marie Messier is to step down.
Vizzavi, which provides day-to-day information services to internet-enabled mobile phones, PCs and personal digital assistants, was unveiled in May 2000. One of a number of multi-access portals launched in the net boom of 2000, it set out to offer consumers a single gateway to all their information needs.
It was originally intended to become a major digital platform, challenging the likes of AOL and Yahoo! and backed by a reported marketing budget of £100m. In 2001 it hired WCRS and Optimedia to handle its creative and media tasks and signed the £2m deal with Pop Idol.
However, the business has been beset by mounting losses. In January it restructured, revising its business model to allow the venture to put its revenues back into the portal instead of ploughing them into the parent firms. It also promoted marketing director Guy Lawrence to chief executive and has yet to replace him.
The brand's demise is thought to be imminent and there is speculation that its soon-to-launch unified messaging service Vivo mail, is now to be branded Voda mail.
Vizzavi has more than ten million registered customers.
As Marketing went to press, Vizzavi refused to confirm or deny whether its brand would remain. Vodafone referred all calls to Vizzavi.
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