text: Before the Bell: Sprint, Veritas Rise  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shares of Sprint Corp. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=FON.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;FON.N&lt;/A&gt; rose  5.4 percent before the bell on Tuesday after the Wall Street  Journal reported that Verizon Communications &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=VZ.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;VZ.N&lt;/A&gt; has gained  the backing of partner Vodafone Group &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=VOD.L target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;VOD.L&lt;/A&gt; to bid for  Sprint.