China Mobile finds big game difficult to match Lessons await the wireless giant as first overseas foray results in setback, writes Mark O'Neill.

(From South China Morning Post)

First it was TCL, then Lenovo Group, Haier and CNOOC. Now it is China's wireless giant, China Mobile, that is on an overseas shopping spree. But, like its comrades, it has run into obstacles such as pricing, unfamiliarity with local conditions and conflicts with unions.

Last week, China Mobile failed in its first attempt at a big foreign acquisition - a stake of 26 per cent in the state telecommunications monopoly of Pakistan. Its bid was far behind the winner, Etisalat Telecommunications Corp of the United Arab Emirates, which put up US$2.58 billion against China Mobile's US$1.41 billion.

"China Mobile was not prepared for …