Sprint, Clearwire set to announce $12B WiMAX deal with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, and Google?

We've definitely heard this one before, but the buzz around a proposed $12B WiMAX partnership between Sprint, Clearwire, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, and Google is deafening right now, all based on a report in the Wall Street Journal. The plan is for Sprint to merge its XOHM wireless broadband division with Clearwire, and then take a total of $3.2B in investments from a host of other players: $1.05B from Comcast, $1B from Intel, $550M from Time Warner Cable, $500M from Google, and $100M from Bright House. The resulting company will be worth some $12B, and the WSJ says investors have given their final approval for the deal -- a rumor we've already heard with no meaningful result, so take it with a grain of salt. Or a whole salt lick, actually. We're not certain why Big Cable is so eager to dump money on Sprint after two previous ventures both folded recently, but if this goes down, it's a pretty big boost for WiMAX, which was looking pretty sickly lately. Still, asking consumers to have faith in Sprint and Comcast and Time Warner Cable is pretty ballsy -- between the three of them, they've probably burned everyone in America. We'll see where this goes -- we should have something official pretty soon, according to the Journal.

[Barron @ May 6th 2008 7:18PM]

i am the interwebs

[bob @ May 6th 2008 10:50PM]

and I am the virus raping your computer

[brandon_r87 @ May 6th 2008 9:53PM]

I think someone made this for you: http://shirt.woot.com/Blog/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryId=4643

[Bevo4138 @ May 6th 2008 10:12PM]

I say that whatever WiMax partnerships come about,

THEY MUST HAVE 100% PAMUK!!!

[J L @ May 6th 2008 7:20PM]

I've got Comcast internet... Maybe if this goes through (yeah, right), I could get a discount on WiMAX!

:p

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 6th 2008 7:43PM]

and I got sprint!

[Isaac @ May 6th 2008 7:54PM]

And I've got time Warner! This is a fun game.

[Erwos @ May 6th 2008 8:32PM]

As a Sprint and Comcast customer, I, too, am looking forward to hearing how this is going to help me.

[aus @ May 6th 2008 8:52PM]

This kind of deal cannot be good for the consumer. The #1 reason I was waiting for WiMAX was to disconnect from comcast; who seem to have a monopoly in most markets. These guys cannot even properly support the limited services they provide running on one cable. Can you imagine calling comcast tech support to diagnose wireless problems.

[ThePremierAssassin @ May 6th 2008 7:28PM]

So wait what do you mean by the new "company" thing? Does that mean all these companies will merge and a new company comprised of all of them will be created?

Maybe I'm not getting it...

Also is WiMax 3G or 4G? What exactly is it going to be used for? Cellphones?

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 6th 2008 7:37PM]

it's been officially announced as the start of 4G

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 6th 2008 7:38PM]

for your first q, their just distributing wimax through partnership. They= clearwire and sprint. Comcast, google and others will probably sell it.

[XiozTzu @ May 6th 2008 7:28PM]

Yeah, this is going to work out. A room full of 800lb gorillas, this should be fun to watch go down in flames!

[brad @ May 6th 2008 8:35PM]

800lb is a mild understatement...more like the whole damn jungle

[ThePremierAssassin @ May 6th 2008 7:33PM]

And might I add that I LOVE that picture...lol.

You know I've been hating on Sprint lately and while I am interested in jumping ship if this deal does go thru, they do get a lot of nice phones in the next few months, and their coverage gets a lil better I could stay onboard...

[darkstar @ May 6th 2008 7:36PM]

DO IT!!!

[CUBSWILLWIN @ May 6th 2008 7:36PM]

" It's my WiMax and I need it now!!" :P

[TVGenius @ May 6th 2008 7:38PM]

This just sounds like the beginning of a crapload of posts on Consumerist about bad service.

[crashoverride @ May 6th 2008 7:46PM]

This looks good on paper, but I doubt that any of these companies can work together to achieve any level of consistency and customer satisfaction. I do not think that they can co-exist and stay consistent, despite the potential power of the WIMAX system. Like Sprint, the network's power could well be swallowed by the lack of consistent service and customer satisfaction and relations. Too many divergent interests, goals and inconsistent or incompatible business models. WIMAX looks good, but this alliance makes me sense a disturbance in the force.

[spacegravity4me @ May 6th 2008 7:47PM]

It's an orgy of technological proportions! A lot of love going around... and something else.



Giggidy

[Micanos @ May 6th 2008 7:54PM]

Why isn't Google in the picture!!!!
:(

[netwerk @ May 6th 2008 8:41PM]

I can't believe Google's name was mentioned in the same breath as Comcast

[Fitz @ May 6th 2008 9:57PM]

Second that....WTF...no Google logo

[Achilles @ May 6th 2008 7:58PM]

How about Sprint try to focus on acquiring real phones and not the crap that they currently have.......... Is that too much to ask?

[Genjinaro @ May 6th 2008 10:43PM]

Umm just to name a few: Sprint will be the 1st in the U.S. to have the Treo 800w, Samsung Instinct, HTC Diamond & Raphael.

I think awesome + useful phones are covered, oh and 1 flashy phone.

[omoks @ May 6th 2008 8:12PM]

" -- between the three of them, they've probably burned everyone in America."

LMAO. Excellent writing. I laughed so hard I cried.

[pete @ May 6th 2008 8:13PM]

Original post said
"...We're not certain why Big Cable is so eager to dump money..."

My guess is, These companies are thinking about the next sustainable growth model and they think they found on Wimax. For cable companies, if there will be a sudden wireless transition, their very own survival will be threatened.

[trigatch4 @ May 6th 2008 8:13PM]

"and while experts have raved about what XOHM could accomplish, the situation amounted to having a really, really hot fiance with too much freaking baggage. The Joint Venture with Clearwire represents the figurative prenuptial agreement with mandatory marriage counseling."

From:
http://mobileroar.com/2008/05/06/sprints-xohm-ready-to-roam

[Alijah @ May 6th 2008 8:42PM]

How come Google's logo isn't on the picture?

[Adrian Williams @ May 6th 2008 8:51PM]

or intel

[retro77 @ May 6th 2008 8:50PM]

Maybe WiMax will be more than vaporware.

[NO @ May 6th 2008 9:31PM]

were is att/Verizons 4g network???

[Genjinaro @ May 6th 2008 10:44PM]

2-4 years away (LTE)...

[Virtuous @ May 6th 2008 10:33PM]

Most people do have choice between the cable, phone and satellite companies. For Net access you can select cable, DSL or satellite. HughesNet is crap, but you can sign up for it if you like.

I hope this WiMAX deal does get done. The mobile carriers need some real wireless competition.

[Droford @ May 7th 2008 12:11AM]

Nintendo should get in on it. They could sell new WiMax enabled Wii's and call them WiiMax.

I have no problem with Sprint, they are the only people that offer broadband (via EVDO REV A) out here where I live (a mere few hundred feet from a Sprint Tower even..heh) No Cable, No DSL and the wiring for dialup is so horrible Id be surfing at 1/2 the speed of smell as Ron White would put it.

[WaterGuru @ May 7th 2008 1:27AM]

At least it won't be called Sprint, or run by Sprint management

[peestandingup @ May 7th 2008 2:02AM]

Sprint, Comcast & Clearwire. These three are the meat in a giant turd sandwich.

[Prhime @ May 7th 2008 7:03AM]

it is official now:
" The new company, which will be named Clearwire, will be focused on
expediting the deployment of the first nationwide mobile WiMAX network
to provide a true mobile broadband experience for consumers, small
businesses, medium and large enterprises, public safety organizations
and educational institutions. The new Clearwire expects to
dramatically enhance the speed and manner in which customers access
all that the Internet has to offer at home, in the office and on the
road.
"
Sprint owns 51%, Clearwiere (shareholders) own 27% and 22% for the rest of the gang (sloppy 3rds??)


Intel will manufacture WiMax onto Centrino 2 chips for laptops and MIDs
-The Goog will work on development of internet sevices, ads and apps for mobile devices and of course will be the preferred search provider
-JV will support Android
- Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks
will enter into wholesale agreements with the new Clearwire,
becoming 4G providers of new Clearwire's mobile WiMAX service.
-and some other stuff

[nonstatic @ May 7th 2008 7:07AM]

it would be great if they went the extra mile and merged, so that i could save on plastic explosives.

[Marty @ May 7th 2008 8:02AM]

Awesome! 5 companies I don't, nor would ever, give my business too! Sweet!