WiMax

Clearwire is in talks with a number of carriers, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless, about eventually providing wireless capacity with its planned 4G LTE network.

"We're talking to everybody," Clearwire Chief Executive Eric Prusch said in an interview with CNET today.

Prusch didn't specifically name the two, but only said the company was talking to multiple companies when asked about AT&T and Verizon. The company's decision to move to LTE, a more widely accepted standard of 4G used by other U.S. carriers, has helped spur new discussions.

"The level … Read more

Clearwire, which has largely been the 4G supplier to Sprint Nextel, sees the potential to grow by supplying wireless capacity to other companies in need.

"We want to be the Switzerland of the broadband industry," Clearwire Chief Financial Officer Hope Cochran said today during an investor conference hosted by Goldman Sachs.

The shift, however, is dependent upon Clearwire's move from its original WiMax technology to a newer version of 4G called LTE. But in order to do that, the company needs to raise an additional $600 million, on top of $150 million to $300 million to shore … Read more

Clearwire enlisted some big help in its effort to switch to another flavor of 4G technology.

The upstart high-speed wireless provider said today that it had formed a partnership with China Mobile to work together to develop products and equipment using a standard of 4G technology called TD-LTE, which is incompatible with what the other major U.S. carriers are using.

By partnering with China Mobile, Clearwire takes advantage of the breadth and scale of the Chinese company, which is the world's largest carrier with more than 700 million subscribers. The goal is to set common standards and product … Read more

It's not a good time to be a Clearwire investor, according to Morgan Stanley.

The 4G wireless provider faces several problems, the investment firm says, including the need to obtain further funding, a rapidly vanishing lead in the 4G race, and the potential of a Sprint iPhone. Such a device would run on a competing network and cut into sales of other smartphones at Sprint--Clearwire's largest source of wholesale customers.

With all of these issues, Morgan Stanley says, the base case value of the company is $1 a share--or less than a third of its current stock price … Read more

Sprint is holding a special event in early October that it's dubbed "a strategy update," prompting speculation as to what strategy the carrier will discuss.

The invite sent out to the media says the event will take place in New York City on Friday, October 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. But the agenda teases only presentations by senior management and a Q&A session with no details as to the topic.

So far, speculation is pointing to Sprint's 4G future as the potential subject.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse apparently … Read more

Sprint Nextel said today that it has scrapped plans for a 4G version of RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, though the carrier will continue to offer a Wi-Fi version of the 7-inch tablet.

"We apologize for any inconvenience, but the BlackBerry 4G PlayBook Tablet that was announced in January for summer availability will no longer be coming to the Sprint network," the company said in a statement today.

"This was a mutual decision between Sprint and RIM," Sprint said.

RIM, for its part, said it is focusing on LTE technology for 4G. Sprint's 4G technology is … Read more

Mobile broadband provider Clearwire has a new president and CEO.

Chief Operating Officer Erik Prusch has been promoted and will take over the reins as president and CEO, effectively immediately, the company announced today. Interim CEO and chairman John Stanton will become executive chairman of the board of directors.

Clearwire, which has been working on an ambitious nationwide 4G push, had seen a management shakeup this past March when CEO William Morrow resigned, prompting the board to put Stanton in charge for the interim. At the time, Chief Commercial Officer Mike Sievert and Chief Information Officer Kevin Hart also left … Read more

Despite raking in more revenue than expected, Clearwire's losses mounted in the second quarter as the company looked to add more customers, it said today. The company also announced a shift in technology direction, stating it will deploy a 4G flavor technology called LTE.

Clearwire posted a quarterly net loss of $168.7 million, compared with a loss of $125.9 million during the same quarter a year ago. The company's revenue jumped to $322.6 million, compared with $117 million in the same period last year.

The company, which is majority-owned by Sprint Nextel, added a total … Read more

Sprint Nextel said today that it will begin offering 4G services on a wholesale basis, allowing other companies and smaller carriers to resell a 4G connection to their customers.

As part of the announcement, Sprint said it would offer up the HTC Detail, which is similar to the Evo Shift smartphone, and a Sierra Wireless data card to companies looking to resell 4G services. The company said it plans to offer additional devices to its wholesale customers in the coming months.

The move is designed to broaden the reach and potential customer base for 4G, which is sold through Sprint … Read more