Softbank-Sprint Deal Seen Presaging Deutsche Telekom Exit

Deutsche Telekom AG, which last year failed to sell T-Mobile USA to AT&T Inc. for $39 billion, may get another shot at disposing of the customer-losing unit.

U.S. rival Sprint Nextel Corp. today said it’s in talks to receive a “potential substantial investment” from Japan’s Softbank Corp. A transaction could create an operator financially strong enough to eventually bid for the assets T-Mobile USA is trying to combine with MetroPCS Communications Inc., said a person familiar with Softbank’s plans, declining to be identified as the discussions are private.