Sprint flirted with others before partnering with SoftBank

(Credit: CNET/Marguerite Reardon)

Sprint Nextel played the field a bit before committing to a merger with SoftBank, according to a merger proxy document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The nation's third-largest wireless carrier had discussions with at least four companies, though the specific names weren't revealed.

The wheeling and dealing underscores the trend toward industry consolidation, spurred partly by competition, as well as by the need for more wireless spectrum. Sprint, in particular, was in both a financial and spectrum bind prior to the SoftBank deal.

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  by Roger Cheng via CNET