Sprint to talk with Dish about bid

Sprint-Nextel said that it has received a special waiver from SoftBank to talk with Dish Network about its takeover proposal. SoftBank, a Japanese cellphone carrier, agreed to buy Sprint last year. Earlier this month, Dish announced a competing $25.5 billion offer for Sprint. Sprint said that the waiver will allow a special committee of its board to enter into a non-disclosure agreement and to hold discussions "for the purpose of clarifying and obtaining further information from DISH regarding its proposal."