There has been quite a bit of news in the last week concerning the 4G revolution. I reported in a past article to expect some news from Sprint. Then just last week, Sprint says it will not be embedding or supporting WiMax in their devices in 2012, or Clear for that matter.

Now I wouldn’t read into that too much. What I got from that press was this: They are not supporting WiMax any longer–LTE is another entity. I also reported that Clear would be making some big news. So, right after Sprint came out in favor of LTE, Clear shares some of the same spotlight with their new LTE path.

I also read some press about Sprint devices being embedded with both TD-LTE and FD LTE. To me, that says Sprint and Clear are moving away from WiMax. They are certainly not washing their hands of Clear. If Sprint has learned anything, they know the value of that spectrum and the future of true 4G speed is in that massive 2.5 GHZ pipe. They also know the value of being able to utilize that network to offload data and keep their network flowing. In fact, Sprint learned that from watching what happened to AT&T, and how their network was not ready for prime time. As a result AT&T took a nose dive from the introduction of the iPhone and all that data flow crashing, or crushing their legacy voice gear.

Sprint is ready to go forward, and they’re saying get on the LTE train, or get left behind. I also wrote an article last year about how Clear should have made this decision back then. But because of the Sprint ties, and an in-place echo space that needed no disruption, they waited, and that cost them an LTE run-away that’s put them in a last place position. There are many reasons for this, and they’re all corporate. There are also many other investors and let’s just say, they did not want to upset the apple cart.

If Sprint really wants to make some 4G news, try offering a 4G-only plan on WiMax-embedded devices for $45 a month. Here’s my recommendation for Sprint: You’re paying Clear $10.00. At $45 a month, that makes $35 profit, and you didn’t even have to build the network. You might just get the attention of investors, and you and Clear will be off and running with the fastest LTE available.

Then, after the news of Sprint treating Clear like a red headed step child with no more WiMax, Clear is in talks with PCS, which is Sprint, and Verizon. This brings us back to all that spectrum. There are so many ways Clear can contribute in this space, by providing an off-load port for all the telecoms, or being the backhaul to devices. And it’s not even dependent on Clear being built all the way out.

This is how I see the situation morphing into an awesome path. If Sprint starts to build out their LTE, while Clear continues to get their truck roll on, they would be building at twice the speed. Now, if these devices are on either a TD or FD LTE network, this is some common ground. At some point their paths will meet, and bam, they have not only caught up but have passed the competition, as this is the realm of true 4G. And if the goal was to build out advanced LTE, the fat lady will have sung.

It looks to me like all the carriers are going to find a way to access the Clear spectrum. Clear may well become an integral part of all things 4G, on all devices before this is over.

With their vast spectrum holdings, Clear will become the main player where 4G is concerned. Bandwidth consumption is exploding and the need for speed is the here and now. I don’t think all the spectrum from all of the carriers combined would total what Clear has to offer.

Clear is talking to all the major carriers about providing capacity to operate their networks as well. I have often said how important Clear is to this space. They started this wireless data as a portable service, and have moved on to give it wings. Their policy has always been take all you want, no caps, and that is what 4G is really about.

To stay competitive, Clear finally made the move to go with LTE. I think they should have made the news about six months earlier, as this would have made their case for needed funding much easier. So what we are calling the 4G of today is not the 4G of tomorrow. And tomorrow’s 4G is fast, and unlimited.

I wrote articles back in 2008 about how tough it was going to be for Clear to compete with the recurring costs of the many licenses they lease. There is a trade off here: it costs much more to build out 2.5 GHz, than it does 700 MHz. However where I see this going: more towers, closer together, with 140 MHz per market, means a more robust network, and that is where the speed demon Clear will excel. If Clear can get the funding they are seeking to build out their LTE side, they will be hitting the 100Mbps threshold long before any other carrier can. And that is true 4G.

This Sprint-Clear relationship is complicated, but I don’t see Sprint cutting loose their ties with Clear. Sprint had to distance themselves from Clear so that Clear’s problems didn’t become Sprint’s as well. They are married through devices, and that will not be changing any time soon.

Consumers have more power today thanks to Clear, and tomorrow only gets better. However there is this little 600 million dollar thing that has put the brakes on it for now. I am certain that they will get their funding. Clear is the only true 4G carrier, not just in terms of speed but the entire concept of what 4G is meant to be: open, unlimited, no borders, fast, and mobile.

Last year Clear abandoned the development of their mobile device as they were in a cost cutting mode. Now, they are talking to China, who is also TD Wimax at 2.5GHz, about building a smart phone for their network. This creates an easy path for Clear to obtain a device for their needs, with just some software tweaks. This is an important area for Clear and is what they need to re-establish themselves as a major 4G competitor and to help tear down the walled garden model of minute monopolies. This is the making of some very good news for the Clear brand and could get the company more than enough funding to build out their 4G network. The major carriers are going to be in a transition for a long time with 3G, slowly moving to 4G. Clear is only 4G, no transition needed. However a good mobile device is needed to help spank some sense into Clear’s competition. This is where 4G starts to really gain some traction, as an all you need technology. I cannot re iterate how important Clear is to us moving forward and firmly establishing what 4G is supposed to be. Clear’s growing pains may well be behind them as this device becomes a reality.

This China collaboration is some huge news for Clear, since they share the same 2.5GHz band and WiMax. In addition, the device they are building is a smart device. Notice I use the term “smart device,” because 4G is not in the same family as the cell phones we know. Clear’s collaboration with China will produce a dual mode device with TD WiMax, and TD LTE. The closer this device gets to market, the closer we all come to true 4G. Then, Clear can finish their TD LTE network and true 4G will be born. Even if Clear’s network only works at 1/3 the speed advertised, 33 Mbps is still giddy up.

Investors should not be scared to take a real hard look at this. It looks very promising to me, that a new smart device will make all the difference in the world and will serve to chum the investor waters.

Clearwire announced yesterday that they will be offering a new personal WiFi hotspot for connecting to their 4G Wimax network. With the new Clear Spot 4G-Apollo you and seven other devices can connect to Clear’s blazing fast Wimax network while on the go.

Measuring just 3.4 inches square and weighing less then five ounces the new Clear Spot will keep you connected for six hours on a single charge. A small screen displays information such as signal strength, battery life and connectivity. Clear promises average download speeds of 3-6 mbps with the new Clear Spot, just don’t go overboard as Clear has been known to throttle extreme users. While the Clear Spot will connect you to 4G, it does not support 3G roaming in areas that lack 4G coverage. At the moment Clear does not offer coast to coast service, but they do have coverage in most major cities in the U.S. To see if there is coverage in your area check out Clear’s coverage map.

Clearwire, which currently operates on 4G WiMax, has its eyes on switching to LTE and has recently conducted LTE trials in Phoenix. According to Erik Prusch, Clearwire’s CEO, “We were able to take advantage of the speed to market before LTE was even a glimmer in anyone’s eye. But we recognize the ecosystem in the U.S. will be larger for LTE than WiMax, so we are conscious of that.”

Clear will be offering the new Clear Spot by the end of the month for $99 to purchase the hotspot or $6 a month to lease it. Monthly plans start as low as $45 a month.

I have called Sprint the king of 4G for many reasons. They make tomorrow look good for us all. Now I am going to reveal how easy it will be for Sprint to enter the LTE space and how they can change technology mid stream.  Beceem is now shipping their BCS500 chips which are Wimax and LTE, along with about six or more radios, including CDMA, EV-DO, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS. These chips will hand off seamlessly between Wimax and LTE.

This is the easiest and most logical path for Sprint to take toward the LTE path. It is much easier to start seeding the device market with devices embedded with this BCS500 chip than any other solution they might have. Once they have the device side in check, deploying LTE is a snap.

This is also where 4G is supposed to be taking us. With this chip, consumers will start to get more choices. As these chips will be embedded in all the carrier devices, consumers will be able to buy a device, and go with what ever carrier they choose including Sprint, AT&T and Verizon–the companies that offer LTE. Of course Sprint needs this more than any other carrier, because they have more wireless technology than all the carriers combined. Sprint will have two 4G technologies, and they need this more than any other carrier to move forward and compete.

And this is why I think we will be hearing from Sprint very soon on their 4G plans. They sometimes don’t like to reveal to much, but the carriers know what is happening with devices. This should also change the direction of Clear, as they are the largest wholesaler for Sprint, and they need to have their devices embedded with this BCS500 chip as well to stay competitive. So a win win scenario is in the making, and Sprint again comes out the winner. I have often said Sprint is the driving force behind 4G, and they are certainly in the drivers seat.

Sprint really just needs to let technology catch up to their way of thinking. This could not be any better news for Sprint, or Clear. However this is not good news for the other carriers as this will put Sprint in the lead with 4GX2 space and 6X the spectrum. No matter what the press thinks, Sprint has this 4G thing on the right road. And the winners will be you: the consumer.

Remember that 4G is not just about speed, it’s about new ways of thinking and concepts that are still being developed to take us in new directions. Most of all, 4G is about giving us choices as to how we choose to use this technology, and to take the monopoly out of the game.

Clearwire, the company currently running the nation’s 4G WiMAX network, is fresh off a new $1 billion investment from Sprint, their primary shareholder. They also have reported increasing numbers of subscribers and higher revenue in the first quarter of 2011, despite amplified competition from competing 4G networks like LTE, which is used by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

Sounds like Clearwire’s future is a bright one, right?

Wrong. The company has recently revealed that they might run out of cash sometime during the next year or so. In their first quarter conference call, Clearwire announced that they have enough cash to keep themselves operating for the next 12 months, after which point their money will have to come from another source. Apparently the cash intake they recently enjoyed on Sprint’s behalf isn’t enough to weather the storm, and the firm is looking for other risk-takers to invest in their cause.

This turn of events has proved unnerving for Clearwire’s investors, but the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Erik Prusch, remains optimistic. “Our subscriber numbers are growing rapidly and the usage stats show us that there is a desire and demand for more capacity,” said Prusch. “So we feel we are well positioned to meet those needs. We have more spectrum assets than anyone else. And we can handle more capacity than any other carrier. We do need additional funding to continue to extend our network. And we’re bullish about being able to secure that funding either in by relying on our strategic investors or through new investors. We also think we can grow revenue organically by growing our revenue and becoming profitable.”

The company hopes to survive by focusing on their wholesale activities, which is supported mostly by Sprint-Nextel subscribers. It will likely prove to be an uphill battle.

As smart phones are on a mission to dominate the wireless world, there is an increased need for speed. As penetration of these devices really starts to gain momentum, it changes all things in its path. Last year Google changed its mantra to “mobile first” and that should be enough to show where we are headed, and fast.

If you want to stay in the lead, follow the leader. Currently about 36 percent of all mobile phones in the US are smart phones, and that number is changing by the minute. Every time there is a new report on changes in the percentage of smart phone users, Google has new numbers as to how search is changing. More and more people are searching from their mobile, for things in their local market.

Carriers are also seeing this, and wonder if their capacity will suffice. Clear just handed off their 4G management to Ericsson, and they are leaders in their field.  Sprint has also let Ericsson manage their network. As smartphones are starting to penetrate in every way, the networks are feeling the strain on their ability to serve up the kind of speed needed to maintain a happy consumer experience.

After Clear made the announcement last week to outsource their 4G management to Ericsson, this press from camp clear: Clearwire COO sees LTE switch on horizon, but details cloudy.  And then this news today from Fierce Wireless: FCC to consider proposal that could boost Clearwire network speeds.

I do see team Sprint/Clear laying the groundwork for some big news here. Twenty MHz channels at 2.5 GHz going forward with an LTE path… Wow, that is one large piece of data pipe. Sprint does have some serious integration and migration work ahead of them. They are working with bands in the 800MHz, 1.9GHz, 2.5GHz, CDMA, WIMAX and LTE. I, for one, am glad I don’t have the headache of trying to come up with a solution that works with their devices as well. However they do have masters of the trade at the helm with Ericsson.

When Clear is ready to make a final announcement on their technology of choice, I suspect it will be some sort of combo play as they will need to migrate from one technology to another. There are tests going on in Malaysia to try to come up with a solution that is a combination of  Wimax and LTE, but from what I’m understanding, they can only be used non-simultaneously at the moment. Sprint is using equipment that will allow them to go with any technology they choose, and that’s good, as they are rich with many. I do think we will see some news on this front soon, as technology waits for no one.

Never count Sprint or Clear as out of the game, they are just getting started. The LTE camps currently only have 20MHz for their 4G. Clear has 140MHz and in this case bigger is better.

Who was it that said Sprint was strapped for cash and would let their CLEAR initiative fall flat? With the recent news that Sprint is injecting one billion dollars into CLEAR, I think it’s pretty much solidified that WiMAX is here, alive and well.

I need to revisit the fact that 802.16M has been approved by the IEEE just in the last two weeks or so. Now for those of you that are CLEAR subscribers, look at the box your modem came in: it says it is WiMax 2-ready. WiMAX-2 is really going to be fast–300mbps fixed, and 100mbps mobile–and is also backwards compatible with devices. The IEEE said this is one of two technologies that is true 4G. The other is LTE. With all the spectrum that team CLEAR has, WiMAX is going to knock the socks off of LTE. And this is what makes AT&T nervous. So be on the lookout for some news to break very shortly about CLEAR finishing its network with the M+2 equipment.

When 4G first started, there were limited devices to access the network: a desktop modem and a 4G dongle. It was a tough sell, spending billions building out a 4G network with limited devices. Now that we have matured a little, and devices are introduced on a daily basis, 4G is ready to rock and roll.

You need to keep your eye on Sprint, they are certainly going to make things interesting in the 4G space. I would not be surprised if Google ends up throwing some funding into the pot. Google also has a $500 million investment in CLEAR. So don’t count Clear as out, or broke. We are just getting started.

The press needs to take a step back for minute and talk about the stuff that matters. I love the Internet for many reasons. There will be a record of the press, where they called Sprint out, or “a distant third.” In reality, Sprint is getting tomorrow here fast with 4G. Consumers may still not know what all this means for them, but trust me, it is a very good thing.

With all these developments in the 4G space and the advent of new 4G devices, I am seeing what seems to be very good news for consumers.

When a technology becomes disruptive across industries, you know it has arrived. Take advertising, for example. Advertising is finding its way right to consumers online via mobile phones. Rather than spend advertising dollars on TV, radio, print and billboards, online ads flow directly to the audiences where they are most frequently found.

Entertainment is another example. With so much content on the Internet, local radio and TV are now a tougher sell. In 2008 I wrote about how mobile and online content would one day cause problems for SAT radio SIRIUS XM, before phones even had this capability. They cannot say they were not warned of this day.

I have written about 4G not just being about speed. It’s about a path that takes us to greater technological freedom: to communicate how we want through data, and to be weaned off of the legacy of 3G voice networks through apps—whether it’s a video call, or voice call, text, or chat, or even a recorded message.

Now with your Internet in your pocket full time, “on the fly,” we are coming to this place where we no longer need a fixed service for the home. Home internet is just another expense, and you can thank 4G for that. With devices getting so advanced, including processor speed improvements and hot spot readiness, being fixed to home Internet is just about over. The days of home desktop modems are numbered. There will still be a need for them, for some back haul, for business or maybe for a wireless surveillance security type of play.

But as we move away from 3G to 4G, we can all expect this disruptive scenario is nothing but good for us all. And in time, once we have moved to all-data networks, the cost to the consumer will be much less. You will no longer hear that you must take voice along with your data services. 4G is only data: do what you want with it.

A last word on disruption: Sprint and Google are moving forward, making 4G good for consumers and leaving the competition in the dust. Of all the 4G providers Sprint, Google and Clear are making the way for this technological evolution and the competition must now conform, or be left behind.

It looks as though 4G is breaking out of its box. In the last two weeks alone, we saw Sprint talking to T-Mobile about a possible merger or buyout. This was big news that would have catapulted a combined Sprint and T-Mobile to the number-one spot among US carriers. Then, out of nowhere, without one ounce of press, a March 20th press release announces an AT&T / T-Mobile buyout. Why did this happen? Here’s what I think: AT&T could not let the Sprint / T-Mobile merger take place without allowing for a serious threat to their own business.

The press is writing that with this merger, Sprint will be in a distant third where carriers are concerned. There are two ways of looking at this. The press is counting subscribers and I say that’s fair. But let’s look at what is really going to matter as these technologies move forward: spectrum. Sprint has more spectrum than any other carrier and, in the long run, this makes them number one. Currently, Sprint is only using a small portion of their available spectrum. AT&T could not sit back and let Sprint gain even more of such a valuable asset—especially when AT&T has a major deficit in this department. In the end, he who has the bandwidth wins.

While AT&T was getting their press on, Sprint and Google were getting their press ready. For some time now, there has been so much potential synergy between Google Voice and 4G. The only thing missing has been a device. Then, just one day after the AT&T / T-Mobile announcement, Sprint, Samsung Introduces the Nexus S 4G to be released in the Spring. I can’t help but think this was in response to the AT&T news—tit for tat, if you will. For those that follow the wireless space, in 2009 AT&T kicked Google Voice to the curb, and off their network. This caused an FCC query as to why they would have made this decision. AT&T clearly saw this app as a threat. And they should. Now Google and Sprint have integrated Google Voice with a powerful 4G Android device.

Sprint bought into the 4G space for a reason, and they are still leading the way. The press can call Sprint a distant number three today, but tomorrow paints a different picture. You can now make phone calls on their 4G network through GoogleVoice, which has no minutes or data caps, is very good quality, and allows for unlimited texts. With all the features that come with Google Voice, there is no limit to what the consumer can do.

Things are moving quickly and Sprint, Clear, and Google will emerge the winners, as well as the consumers. They finally get to know what 4G means through a device, thanks to Sprint’s vision for the future. Ultimately, I believe Sprint will find they really did not need T-Mobile after all.

According to California-based research firm IHS iSuppli, Verizon’s 4G network will edge out the head
start enjoyed by Sprint-backed WiMax sometime next year. By 2014, LTE expects to have 10 times the
customer base that WiMax has (303.1 million versus 33.4 million).

Sprint, through its partner Clearwater corp., has poured billions into WiMax over the last two years.
They will remain on top of the 4G industry this year, with 14.9 million users, up from 6.8 million last
year. But this will change as 30 new operators join big guns like Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile in signing
up with LTE.

According to Francis Sedeco, an analyst with IHS iSuppli, “With WiMax enjoying a two to three-year
head start in next generation network deployments, it presently enjoys a major advantage in market
share. With LTE supported by most of the leading wireless operators worldwide, it will rise to surpass
WiMax.”

Verizon LTE is significantly pricier than Sprint WiMax, and it isn’t as widely available. However, it has
currently wired up 38 major US cities (versus Clearwater’s 62 cities) and 60 airports, and plans to expand
across the middle of the country to cover its current 3G footprint. Its blazingly fast speed ensures its
increasing popularity, and it comes with useful options like paying $10 for 24 hours of unlimited usage,
which may come in handy for occasional travel.

Sprint has announced it will spend $5 billion dollars upgrading its network over the next few years, and
may even incorporate LTE. Clearwire, too, has announced the possibility of making the switch to LTE.