Boston ? IBM Corp. withdrew its offer to buy Sun Microsystems Inc. for about $7 billion this weekend, clouding the prospects for a deal that would shake up the computing industry, The Associated Press has learned.

Talks were in their final stages in recent days, but IBM took its offer off the table after Sun terminated IBM’s status as its exclusive negotiating partner, according to two people familiar with the situation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the negotiations.

One of these people said the two sides were still talking Sunday.

Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM was believed to be offering about $9.50 per share for Sun.