"It's like being the preferred supplier of bread to Wal-Mart, " says Frank McQuillan, the CEO of Telecom Engineering Services.

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Multi-million pound plans to roll out superfast broadband across Northamptonshire have moved a step closer after the county council appointed BT as its preferred supplier.

BBC: Superfast broadband plan for Northamptonshire

Qualcomm is the preferred supplier to practically all smartphone purveyors.

FORBES: Apple Ain't The Next Polaroid

More such deals that will let electricity companies become more than passive buyers of gas are expected prior to a July 2007 European Union deadline for all European consumers to be able to select which company will be their preferred gas and electric supplier.

FORBES: When Sparks Fly