String table optimization?

[Axel Kittenberger]

Hello!

We recently investigated the string tables from some of our binaries with 
`strings`, and discovered that a lot of strings are duplicates. So to optimze 
in regards of size, can they be combined in the final binary? After all it 
are string _constants_.

Do you know of a ld switch one can issue, or can someone explain why this 
systematicly could not be done safely?