GLADIATOR Ulrika Jonsson provided the touch of glamour at yesterday's announcement of the strategic alliance between Telecom Eireann and its new partners from the Netherlands and Sweden. But it was Ruud Gullit who scored with the crowd. Several hundred football fans turned up for a glimpse of the charismatic Chelsea player manager, fresh from his team's FA cup victory over Liverpool.

"He's gorgeous," sighed one woman. Asked if she had got his autograph, she just stared and said: "Of course. Why, did you not get it?"

Gullitt was introduced to the crowd on Dublin's St Stephen's Green, by RTE's Pat Kenny. In addition to Jonsson, who provided the Swedish connection, and Ruud Gullit, from the Netherlands, was Colm Meaney, who entered the proceedings to the theme from Star Trek.

Telecom chief executive Alfie Kane, came on to score a late winner half price phone calls until midnight on Sunday, starting from midnight tonight. The calls are being charged at half the weekend rate, but the offer does not apply to mobile phones or public boxes.