Microsoft Talks With European Firms Reported

Microsoft Corp., which has been snapping up stakes in phone and cable television companies, is in talks with Germany’s Deutsche Telekom about investing $1 billion in the telecommunications powerhouse or its cable subsidiary, German media reported Wednesday.

Microsoft is also in talks to invest up to $4 billion in Britain’s Cable & Wireless Communications’ cable subsidiary, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

Executives of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft weren’t immediately available to comment on the German reports of talks with Deutsche Telekom.

Microsoft also said Wednesday it agreed to buy Swedish software company Sendit for $120 million in cash. Sendit’s main product lets users browse the Internet and send e-mails with a cellular phone.

Microsoft rose 63 cents to close at $80.50 in heavy trading on Nasdaq.