T-Mobile and Clearwire mulling 4G partnership
By Vlad Savov 
posted March 19th 2010 7:53AM
posted March 19th 2010 7:53AM
Looks like the kids at T-Mobile USA are well aware that their company's future will depend on offering both compelling handsets and a competitive network for them to ride on. Reuters reports that the Deutsche Telekom subsidiary has been exploring all its options with regard to the provision of 4G services, including potential joint ventures with cable companies and even spectrum sharing with AT&T, though the likeliest candidate for the moment remains Clearwire's WiMAX infrastructure. Asked about a potential merger with Sprint, who controls more than 50 percent of Clearwire, T-Mobile's CEO Robert Dotson declined the idea, explaining that "what you never want to do is take one company that is going through challenges and take another company going through challenges." Reports of ongoing discussions between Clearwire and T-Mo have been around since last September, and the latest from Dotson suggests that his company is keen to get a resolution either way as soon as possible.
Sprint owns 59% of Clearwire...since they bought up more in 2009.
These phone companies drive me mad. Hey T-Mobile get a clue and share the same LTE spectrum with AT&T or Verizon so you can make a deal down the road for your customers to roam on their network or use their towers since you don't have the $ to build one that size. It will also help you if the company has to be sold down the road.
Or you can take the Sprint route and use WiMax when 90% of the rest of the world using LTE so all your phones suck, take forever for new phones to come out, and your coverage sucks!
I forgot to mention WiMax requires it's own chip, where there will be LTE-->UMTS-->GSM all in one chips.
@treats All of the hardware Sprint bought is software upgradable/flashable to LTE. They are covering their bases.
It looks like everyone and their Mom is gonna MVNO clearwire's network. Saturation here we come, I'm sure.
@treats Wouldn't make sense to make a deal with Verizon since T-Mo uses GSM while Verizon uses CDMA. A roaming agreement wouldn't do much for either of them (with the exception of LTE).
@shaniac correction 51%
hahah
i triple dog dare t-mobile to acquire Sprint!!!! do it!
oddly enough the past few days, the places where i didn't have service now show up at AT&T on my Tmobile phone .. but only recently .. and not just mine but my girlfriend's Cliq and my Mom's Shadow. I have a Rooted G1 .. Maybe Tmo is changeing more than jsut the spectrums ..
@Pulldovr
what? i thought tmobile can roam onto att network and vice versa easily.
i know sprint can roam onto verizon (at least in philly).
@Pulldovr That's always happened for my friends on T-Mo. They were roaming on AT&T quite often.
They should focus on building a 3G network first.
@mappo
Already are.. ?
Bad idea if AT&T wants to share some of it's spectrum. I mean really, AT&T can barely keep up as it is. They need to give extra spectrum to their customers first.
T-mobile, can you you say Supersonic?
Should I load up on stock shares? Very tempting. Tmobile does need to merge with a larger provider, but not sprint. That just wouldn't make for good business. Two sinking ships.
@purge68 With who then? Verizon and ATT don't need T-Mobile, well maybe ATT does but won't without Apple's permission first, that leaves no one else.
And no I don't think Google will but T-Mo OR Sprint as some rumors have it, altho they could probably buy both and create T-Sprint or GoMobile, not sure the regulators would like it as much as it would benefit the consumer
Sounds fishy to me. T-Mobile has clearly stated that LTE is the future for them, so for them to acquire/merge with a WiMAX provider doesn't seem to make much sense.
@patsy Agreed
@patsy Word. I thought it was 21Mbps then LTE. How does Wimax come into it?
@patsy
LTE = WiMax
There is very little difference. The same hardware can be used with a minor software update.
good news, but as a tmobile customer im wondering when i will just get 3g and away from edge, i mean dont get me wrong tmobile i do love paying 25 a month for edge speed data. but build out your 3g a little better tmob, thanks.
they have it way harder then sprint. Making a deal with clearwire wld be the easiest n most cost effective out of all the choices they have
Oooo little T-Mobile, i won't quit you now, but PLEASE don't go dumb and use WiMAX as your 4G technology, get smart like AT&T & Verizon and decide on LTE.
@jayy337 Exactly how is WiMax dumb?
@Slvrgun
No one uses it.
@jayy337 Wimax equipment is cheaper to produce than LTE. LTE is capable of slightly higher speeds but cost wise, I'd choose WiMax.
WiMax vs LTE ---->Cost vs Slightly better speed------->(VHS vs Betamax)
@Peter F
why would you say that?
http://www.wimaxmaps.org/
@Slvrgun
WiMAX isn't dumb, its just, how Peter F said, NO ONE uses it. It wouldn't be very convenient for T-Mobile (a GSM carrier) to use WiMAX itll be less convenient for traveling customers etc. I don't know if other countries in Europe are gonna go WiMAX, but i highly doubt it.
its another whole CDMA vs GSM type thing.
WiMax 4G on T-Mo? Won't happen!! Unless a Sprint acquisition happens and Sprint cant afford squat right now, trust me...
Have you mulled using the word considering?
I hope CLEARWIRE improves T-mobile's crappy phone coverage. I really like the Nexus phone but I am spending a dime on crappy Tmobile's coverage.