(Telecompaper) Japanese communications provider SoftBank is considering making a bid for T-Mobile USA if its deal with Sprint Nextel falls through. The two companies are reportedly in preliminary talks, The Financial Times writes citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. SoftBank is seeking to take over Sprint in a USD 20 billion deal but Dish Network has issued a rival offer and is currently conducting due diligence. Sprint's shareholders will vote on the issue on 12 June. SoftBank has been in talks with T-Mobile's owner, Deutsche Telekom, for some time but with the MetroPCS merger the company moved on to Sprint. Deutsche Telekom owns a 74 percent stake in T-Mobile USA.