Time Warner May Go Wireless

Sprint Corp. and Time Warner Cable are discussing a deal that would allow the cable provider to offer cellphone service, the companies said Wednesday.

Such a deal would make the unit of Time Warner Inc. the only major cable company to offer the so-called quadruple play -- television, high-speed Internet access and both traditional and wireless phone service.

It also would be the latest in a series of partnerships for Sprint in which other companies introduce their own brand of wireless service using Sprint’s network. Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint has already made deals with AT&T; Corp., Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN unit, Virgin Mobile USA and Qwest Communications International Inc.

While representatives of both companies confirmed that talks are underway, they wouldn’t say whether a deal was imminent.

Sprint spokesman Jeff Shafer said the company was in talks with all of its cable partners to eventually resell Sprint wireless service as part of a package to subscribers.

“Our relationship with the cable companies is as much about offering the quadruple play as it is offering [Internet phone service],” Shafer said. “This is all about offering a compelling bundle to the consumer.”

Cable companies are in a bitter fight with traditional phone carriers, such as SBC Communications Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. as they all try to offer the full range of television programming, high-speed Internet, standard voice services and wireless.

The strategy is based on the assumption that a customer receiving a wide range of services from a single company is less likely to jump ship to another provider.

A consortium of cable companies, including Time Warner, is studying how to break into the wireless business, either by building their own network, buying up a wireless provider or teaming up with a company like Sprint to resell the service.

Sprint is the nation’s third-largest cellular provider with about 23 million subscribers. This month, Sprint and Nextel Communications Inc. said they would combine in a $35-billion deal that would create a company with 38 million wireless subscribers.

Sprint shares rose 5 cents Wednesday to $24.88, while Time Warner shares fell 13 cents to $19.42. Both companies trade on the New York Stock Exchange.