Verizon Communications, which has agreed to acquire MCI for $6.7 billion, today said it would grant MCI two weeks to hold additional talks with rival bidder Qwest Communications.
MCI had spurned an $8 billion bid from Qwest when it agreed to be acquired by Verizon, the largest US phone company.
MCI accepted the lower bid in part because of Verizon's solid balance sheet and stronger growth potential, people familiar with the matter have said.
"Verizon recognizes that it is in the best interests of the stakeholders of both Verizon and MCI to address recent market speculation regarding Qwest's claims that it can deliver greater value to MCI's shareholders," Verizon said in a statement.
"Notwithstanding this speculation, we believe that this process will result in MCI reaching the same conclusion that it reached after seven months of discussions with Qwest," Verizon added.
Shares of MCI, which had already been trading above Verizon's offer price of $20.75 a piece, rose to $23.75 in pre market trading on the Inet electronic system, from a close of $23.36 on Tuesday on Nasdaq.