Deutsche Telekom has also made preliminary contact with Bell Atlantic, SBC Communications and BellSouth, though none of those talks have gone beyond preliminary stages, executives close to Deutsche Telekom said.
Once you've created "warm leads" and have made preliminary contact with faraway contacts, you can solidify your connection by advancing to an in-person meeting.
Laith Kubba, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari, said that in recent months, the government had made preliminary contact with representatives of some insurgent groups.
For its part, Volvo has made preliminary contact with several rivals including Renault's truck unit about a possible combination, the executives said, though talks are not expected to begin in earnest until the European Commission makes its final ruling.
But the fact that the chief executive of Merrill, one of the most prominent investment banks, even made preliminary contact with Wachovia underscores how much the subprime mortgage crisis has rocked Merrill.
Officials for the Denver Nuggets, the only N.B.A. team with a coaching vacancy, made preliminary contact with the Nets this week and will ask for permission to talk with Eddie Jordan, the Nets' top assistant coach, after the season is over, according to several people familiar with the process.
Moreover, the Americans have recognized the need for making preliminary contacts with the Taliban that may lead to peace negotiations.
Recently, Volvo executives are said to have made preliminary contacts with several other rivals, including Renault of France, about a possible combination.
South African Breweries has made preliminary contacts with Miller to buy the underperforming brewing unit of Philip Morris.
Make preliminary decisions.
