We'd take this with half a tablespoon of salt for now, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint-Nextel Corp. is "seriously considering spinning off or selling its ailing Nextel unit." That's according to undisclosed people "familiar with the situation," though Sprint did decline to comment on whether it actually was considering a sale of Nextel. Also of note, Cyren Call is reportedly attempting to "assemble a consortium of investors to acquire Nextel as part of its plans to create a nationwide wireless network for public safety communications," and while it can't be confirmed, we are hearing that Sprint is "contemplating other possible buyers such as private equity firms." Still, these same sources made clear that "no deal was imminent and that Sprint was preoccupied for the moment with other matters." It's no secret that the firm would be way more attractive to suitors (read: Deutsche Telekom) if the flagging Nextel division was detached from the deal, but we guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in, image courtesy of Flickr]

Although Bus-Fi is no stranger to San Francisco, it'll be new to Chattanooga, Tennessee soon enough. Reportedly, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) will be implementing "its long-planned Smartbus program" which includes "automatic vehicle locating via GPS and an automatic vehicle management system." More interesting, however, is the new WiFi system that will enable riders on CARTA buses, CARTA shuttle buses, CARTA Care-a-van vehicles or even the Incline Railway access to free internet. Additionally, users will even be able to "use credit cards and new smartcard technology, one which uses contactless proximity cards to pay bus fares" starting next Spring. As for the free WiFi, expect that to be available sometime over the next 15 months as the new services are gradually added to CARTA vehicles.

Sprint's open mindedness to hooking up with Clearwire for a national WiMAX network has blossomed into something just a little more serious, it seems. The two companies have announced that they'll be collaborating on making mobile WiMAX a reality in a comprehensive agreement that covers roaming and combined marketing efforts under a single to-be-announced brand name. Specifically, Sprint will be responsible for covering about 185 million potential customers with Clearwire swooping in for another 115 million over the next few years; 100 million total are expected to be covered by the end of 2008, which is curiously the exact same number Sprint had been throwing around on its own accord before the agreement was announced. This is a pretty serious deal, too -- the two are bound in holy matrimony for at least 20 years with options for up to three 10-year renewals. Looks like that hot WiMAX smartphone from Palm might still be in the cards, eh?

Recently, Sprint decided to cut its losses and give a number of CSRs a break from the nagging when it pulled the plug on nearly 1,200 of its mobile customers. Apparently, these whiners were dialing in "40 to 50 times as often" as the "average customer," and after failing to appease them, the firm chose to "terminate the relationship with those customers to allow them to pursue other options." As you'd imagine, some of these bicker-prone individuals are less than pleased with the outcome, and to make matters worse, the firm has also cut the cord with habitual roamers -- including some that are actually enlisted in our military. Can't a soldier (or sniveller) catch a break?

[Thanks, John F.]
Read - Sprint cancels 1,200 contracts over excessive complaining
Read - Sprint cancels traveling soldiers' cellphone

Shoring up its music-friendly line alongside the UpStage from Samsung, Sprint has announced its "Muziq," the Fusic's spiritual successor from LG. While it'll face some serious musicphone competition from across the CDMA / GSM divide later this week, the Muziq holds its own with some interesting features including an integrated FM transmitter that can send tuneage to any FM radio within ten feet. It also offers up stereo Bluetooth, a microSD slot supporting up to 4GB of expansion (a 64MB card is included in box), 1.3 megapixel camera, and sideloading of DRM-free music via USB. Look for it to hit on July 15 for $99 on contract.

If you head on over to Engadget Mobile and do ya thing, that is -- so go try your hand at winning the gorgeous K1m now!

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Samsung m610 (the second one)

We thought the Sprint Mogul was a little bit of alright, but do the 'nets agree? By and large, yeah, it seems the bottom line is that this is the must-have upgrade for PPC-6700 owners. Mobile Tech Review points out that an MMS client is notably missing and picture quality on the 2 megapixel camera could be better, but hey, it's still an improvement over the Apache's 1.3 megapixel unit. Boy Genius Report found that the ridges on the phone's posterior were a little funky, too; just like the Mogul's crazy bright yellow UI, it's probably an acquired taste.

[Via Pocket PC Thoughts]

Read - Gear Diary ("...leaps and bounds above the PPC-6700 that it replaces...")
Read - Boy Genius Report ("...the device is a pleasure to use...")
Read - Phone Scoop ("... flashier design, updated operating and higher resolution camera...")
Read - My iTablet (3.75 / 5 stars, "...a worthy upgrade from the PPC-6700...")
Read - Mobile Tech Review (4 / 5 stars, "A very strong offering from Sprint, and a worthy, if not overdue, successor to the PPC-6700")

For our Mobile squad, no smartphone launch is complete until we've touched it, analyzed it, and -- knowing our butterfingered selves -- dropped it on a concrete surface (just kidding, our Mobile editors would sacrifice life and limb for the safety of a handset). But when said smartphone happens to be a frickin' CDMA device from HTC... well, that's like a once (or twice) in a lifetime event. Head on over to Mobile for our first impressions of Sprint's Mogul by HTC with a full gallery to boot. Heck, it's almost as good as actually buying one!

Just when you think we might be done, nope, think again -- the relentless onslaught of lovely gifts continues over on Engadget Mobile. Today we've got another Samsung m610 for Sprint that we'd like to part with. Not because we don't like it -- quite the contrary, in fact -- we'd just rather see it in one of our lucky readers' hands. Go check it out!

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Samsung m610 (the first one), Sanyo M1

Incredibly, Engadget Mobile's still celebrating its glorious relaunch -- and why shouldn't it? Celebrations mean giveaways, and today, "giveaway" means a shiny new Sanyo M1 for Sprint. Equipped with a full gig of onboard storage, the M1's pretty much a music fan's dream, so why not take a crack at winning it? Click on!

After a day to look back and quietly reflect on all the great hardware it'd given away recently, Engadget Mobile's back in true contest form today with a Samsung m610 for Sprint! Reminiscent of Samsung's high-end Ultra Edition line, the 11.9mm thick m610 packs a serious punch (think 2 megapixels, microSD, and 3G data) without letting out any notches in the belt. Go get your giveaway on before it's too late!

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Sprint UpStage by Samsung (number two), Samsung BlackJack, Nokia N75 (number two), (PRODUCT) RED MOTORAZR V3m for Sprint (number two), Samsung u620 (number two)

Courtesy of Sprint, Engadget Mobile's got yet another (PRODUCT) RED Motorola RAZR V3m to give away. Sure, the 1.3 megapixel camera and media player are nice, but that red shell lets everyone know that you're doing your part to help fight the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Try your luck right now!

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Motorola T305, Samsung u620, (PRODUCT) RED MOTORAZR V3m for Sprint, Sprint UpStage by Samsung (number two), Samsung BlackJack, Nokia N75 (number two)

What's that we hear? Could it be the gentle thumping of beautiful music pouring out of another Sprint UpStage? Why, yes, we think it just might be! Why not go try to make it your own?

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: T-Mobile Wing, Sprint UpStage by Samsung (the first one), Nokia N75, Motorola T305, Samsung u620, (PRODUCT) RED MOTORAZR V3m for Sprint

None, we reckon! The red variant of the Motorola RAZR V3m gets its hue through its participation in (PRODUCT) RED, part of the organization dedicated to wiping out AIDS in Africa. Thanks to Sprint, we have one to offer a lucky entrant. Have a go at it, why don't you?

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Helio Ocean, T-Mobile Wing, Sprint UpStage by Samsung, Nokia N75, Motorola T305, Samsung u620

What better way to blow out the holiday than with a handful of Motorola T305 car kits? Does one of 'em have your name on it? Only one way to find out, we figure: enter the contest!

Have a look at our other contests, too, before it's too late: Helio Ocean, T-Mobile Wing, Sprint UpStage by Samsung, Nokia N75