WiMax across U.S., thanks to Intel cash (and geekTunes)

Engage maximum IT Blogwatch, which heralds a nationwide WiMax network, courtesy of Sprint and Clearwire -- oh, and Intel's billions. Not to mention geeky music from Redmond, via Japan...

Karl Bode reports:

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 ... [but] renewed discussions [are] underway ... 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 ... 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. [more]

Eric Bangeman adds:

Sprint and Clearwire's on-again, off-again WiMAX partnership may be back on, with some help from Intel ... This time around, the companies are discussing a joint venture, with Sprint likely to spin off its Xohm network altogether and retain an ownership stake in the new entity. Such a deal would please investors who have hounded Sprint over the over $5 billion cost of deploying and launching Xohm. [more]

Scott Moritz heard the whispers last week:

The deal, which could be announced in the next few days, would create a new company that combines Sprint's licenses in the 2.5-gigahertz wireless spectrum and Clearwire's spectrum in the same and adjoining air waves ... Sprint tore up a prior agreement in November ... in an effort to undo the work of former CEO Gary Forsee. Among the top priorities for new CEO Dan Hesse has been deciding the fate of Sprint's costly WiMax effort. Sprint, under Forsee, essentially pinned the company's future on the promising mobile wireless broadband technology. [more]

John Paczkowski thinks a thought-experiment:

A joint venture between the two could be announced in a matter of days. And if it is, it may involve a $2 billion cash investment from Intel (INTC). As it well should. It was Intel, after all, that called WiMax “the most important thing since the Internet itself.” Course, it might as well have said the same thing about time travel, because neither are exactly widely available today. [more]

Matt Buchanan asks, "WhyMax?":

It seems unlikely that Best Buy or Google will heed their sorta desperate call for cash. Google's got 700MHz spectrum on its plate, and logically, WTF would Best Buy want with WiMax? Intel's already heavily invested and support will be in their next mobile chipset, so it makes sense they would toss more money into the massive, sucking hole that will be the Sprint/Clearwire venture ... Given Sprint's shaky legs and Clearwire's teeniness, they're gonna need it to get to WiMax on track for national deployment. [more]

And Stefan Constantinescu just scoffs:

I'm having a hard time believing why people insist WiMAX has any potential to win any marketshare, just do LTE and be done with it. [more]

Tim Sanders has questions:

What hasn't yet been revealed is the possible structure of the company and in particular who owns what licenses. Will the two, for example, create a new third firm for a joint venture? If so, will the parent companies retain ownership of the licenses and simply lease them to the new entity? Or will they move that asset into the new company and simply retain ownership value in the new venture? [more]

Meanwhile, Kevin C. Tofel has his eyes on a new toy:

Take one Segway, mount a Tablet PC and webcam, then gently insert a WiMax modem and you're set! The video is from Barcelona where Intel set up a WiMax network. Check out some of the activities Tim Sweeny from Intel did while traveling around on two wheels and in his hotel: streaming music while tooling around the town, sending a feed from the web-cam throughout the town and watching high-def video on the notebook. I'm adding this to my next Christmas list now ... Now let's get this thing rolled out... the network, not the Segway. [more]

And finally...

• Music using only sounds from Windows XP and 98
  • Extended version: startup sound prank? [You're fired -Ed.]
    

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Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You too can pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• Has Blu-ray won? HD-DVD R.I.P.? (and souvenir potpourri 2)
• SCO zombies climb out of grave (and virtualize-or-die)
• Apple MacBook Air left for dead by rivals? (and OTT-cop)