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Sprint and Clearwire Brush off Rumours of Intel Funding for WiMAX Joint Venture
Aspiring WiMAX providers, Sprint Nextel and Clearwire are refusing to comment on rumours that Intel Corp. has agreed to help the two companies revive their proposed joint venture.
Intel, a major U.S. chipmaker and strong supporter of WiMAX, wants Sprint and Clearwire to work together to promote the technology, and is willing to provide funding to the tune of $2 billion, according to a report at TheStreet.com on Friday. An integrated nationwide WiMAX network would be jointly operated by Sprint and Clearwire, which have been coordinating their wireless broadband efforts for some time now, and briefly flirted with the idea of a full partnership last year.
WiMAX, which enables significantly faster wireless broadband speeds than traditional cellular networks, has already been utilized by Clearwire in more than 30 U.S. communities, and will be launched by Sprint in several major cities in the second quarter of this year.
Most analysts believe that the two companies can achieve far more by working together, but for now, the possibility of a full partnership is far from a sure thing.
“Rumors are just kicking around again. It’s rumor,” commented Sprint spokesman, John Polivka, in response to the report of Intel funding. “We don’t comment on rumors. There’s nothing going on.”
Source:
http://www.teleclick.ca/2008/02/sprint-and-clearwire-brush-
off-rumours-of-intel-funding-for-wimax-joint-venture/
