Last November, Sprint scrapped a deal with Clearwire that would have seen the two companies splitting the build cost of a nationwide WiMax broadband network 65/35, while allowing users to easily roam between the two networks. According to Sprint at the time, the two companies couldn't agree to terms -- though rumors started to surface shortly thereafter that the two companies would resume talks in 2008.
Those rumors were apparently true, with the Wall Street Journal reporting last month that renewed discussions were underway, potentially involving an influx of cash from Intel, Google and Best Buy. The Street now offers more specifics, saying the joint venture between Sprint & Clearwire should be announced in a matter of a few days, and involves a $2 billion cash injection by Intel -- potentially more from other firms.
Intel, back when the WiMax hype train was just leaving the station, called their technology "the most important thing since the Internet itself." The new company would combine Sprint's licenses in the 2.5-gigahertz wireless spectrum and Clearwire's spectrum in the same and adjoining air waves. The joint-venture would make Intel happy, given they lost a lot of potential chip sales when AT&T and Verizon embraced LTE over WiMax.
source: broadbandreports.com
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