ie8 fix

clearwire

Clearwire strikes 4G development alliance with China Mobile

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

Clearwire stock may be worth $1, analyst says

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 special October event could reveal 4G plans

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 reportedly in talks for Clearwire takeover

Sprint Nextel is in talks with the cable companies over a new round of investment that may lead to a full takeover of 4G partner Clearwire, according to Bloomberg.

Sprint is in discussions with investors Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, Bloomberg reported today, citing anonymous sources. The report said Sprint is weighing using the investment to fund the acquisition of the remaining stake in Clearwire that it doesn't own.

Such a scenario could provide relief to cash-strapped Clearwire, which is seeking funding to stay alive and expand its network with a newer, faster 4G technology. The … Read more

Clearwire names new president and CEO

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

A beginner's guide to telecom jargon, part 4

The mobile world moves at a breakneck pace, and it's difficult to keep up--even without the technical jargon most industry insiders throw around. And they do love to toss those terms about.

This week, I continue with the techno-babble trend with a few more network terms for 4G. (Who doesn't love those?)

So for some light reading, here are a few terms telecom experts throw around with the assumption that everyone understands them.

TD-LTE: Just when you thought there possibly couldn't be anymore 4G terms, Clearwire pops up and decides to switch to a technology that hasn'… Read more

Clearwire: We're not dumping WiMax

Clearwire's move to add a 4G LTE network doesn't mean it's going to be giving up on its current WiMax standard, according to Chief Technology Officer John Saw.

"Expanding into more markets is not off the table," Saw said in an interview with CNET today. "We will continue to add capacity where it's needed most."

Clearwire's announcement yesterday that it would carry a second wireless network was a logical move as the rest of the industry moves to LTE, which offers higher speeds and a larger pool of vendors that can … Read more

Clearwire announces LTE shift as losses mount

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 to sell 4G services to wholesale customers

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

Sprint CEO: 4G plans to come in the fall

KANSAS CITY, Mo.--Sprint Nextel will provide more details on its 4G plans in the fall, Chief Executive Dan Hesse said during a meeting with reporters at the company's headquarters here today.

Sprint was originally scheduled to provide an update on its 4G plans by the middle of the year. However, Hesse, speaking to a roundtable of reporters today, provided the later date.

"All your questions will be answered then," Hesse said.

Questions have mounted about Sprint's 4G strategy as Verizon Wireless has raced past Sprint with more markets. T-Mobile USA has covered nearly its entire … Read more