NTT Unit Eyes Stake in U.S. Wireless Firm

Japanese mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. is in talks to buy a minority stake in a proposed U.S. wireless phone company, people familiar with the situation said. Under the agreement, NTT DoCoMo would buy a 10% to 15% stake in a proposed joint venture between the wireless telephone units of SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., the sources said. The company, which would be the second-largest wireless company in the U.S. with more than 16 million customers, has not yet been approved by regulators. SBC, based in San Antonio, and BellSouth, based in Atlanta, declined comment. NTT DoCoMo, the wireless arm of Japanese telecom giant Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp., also declined comment in Tokyo.