July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

The free internet service FreedomPop is gearing up to expand its reach across the U.S. — though it’s looking to an older cellular network to do so.

FreedomPop announced today that it’s bringing its service to Sprint’s 3G network, which is in addition to ClearWire’s WiMax 4G that it’s already using. Now with Sprint’s 3G network, FreedomPop has doubled its coverage across the U.S. The company is also announcing a new MiFi hotspot, the FreedomPop Overdrive Pro, which will be its first device to access both 3G and WiMax 4G.

“The reality is we’re waiting for LTE, but it’s taking too long for the Sprint build-out,” said Stephen Stokols, FreedomPop’s chief executive, in an interview with VentureBeat today. “We don’t want to sit around for the next six months or so on just the (WiMax) 4G  coverage we’ve got now.”

The company isn’t leaving its existing users behind. Stokols tells me FreedomPop customers will be able to exchange their current devices — including the company’s iPod Touch sleeves and USB sticks — for the Overdrive Pro. Going forward, the company is focused on delivering new Sprint-compatible LTE devices by the end of the year.

“We really wanted to prove the business model [could work],” Stokols said while pointing out that offering free Internet could have easily led the company to bleed cash. “We’re almost six months into the beta, we’ve got viable metrics, and as a company we’ve done a good job of creating algorithm that tell people of how much they’ve used.”

FreedomPop didn’t have much to say about its progress yet, but Stokols told me it’s seeing gross margins of 50 percent. The company’s subscribers are also inviting around 17 people to FreedomPop on average, which gets them some free Internet access and FreedomPop free marketing.

Additionally, he noted that the company has learned quite a bit about launching new wireless devices in the U.S, which involves learning how to deal with federal regulators and wireless carriers.

“You’ll see more devices come to market down the line, and we’re going to be much more efficient on doing that,” he said.

The free wireless internet startup FreedomPop is targeting the likes of Comcast and Cablevision with its Hub Burst home router, which is now available for purchase.

First announced back in December, the $89 Hub Burst brings FreedomPop’s free wireless service beyond mobile devices. It comes with 1 gigabyte of free WiMax 4G, and you can also purchase additional bandwidth starting at $10 a month.

Like all of FreedomPop’s devices, there’s a big social component with the Hub Burst — you can earn additional bandwidth by referring family and friends. FreedomPop also offers a variety of special promotions that grant more bandwidth when completed.

While routers for cellular connections aren’t anything new, FreedomPop’s strategy certainly offers something new for home broadband users. For many people, it doesn’t really make sense for them to subscribe to home broadband connections, so a solution like the Burst Router could be ideal. (It sounds like the best way to get your non-techy grandma online.)

Unfortunately, since FreedomPop relies on WiMax 4G, you won’t see speeds anywhere near typical home broadband connections. The company’s next wave of devices will run on Sprint’s LTE connection, which has the potential to reach or surpass home broadband speeds.

Sprint’s slightly tumultuous relationship with Clearwire may finally lead to a marriage.

After Sprint spent $1.6 billion to bail out Clearwire last December, sold off its Clearwire majority voting rights in June, and then reclaimed its majority voting status in October for $100 million, Sprint may finally be ready to buy Clearwire for $2.1 billion, Bloomberg reports based on a regulatory filing from this morning.

Sprint offered to buy out the rest of Clearwire’s remaining shares for $2.90, 5.5 percent more than Clearwire’s closing price yesterday. Sprint’s also offering interim financing up to $800 million to Clearwire while the deal is discussed.

After being on the ropes for years, Sprint received a hefty infusion of cash in October when Japan’s Softbank bought a 70 percent stake in the carrier for $20.1 billion.

Sprint initially joined up with Clearwire back in 2008 to build out a 4G WiMax network — which was slightly faster than 3G networks, but nowhere near as fast as LTE networks today. Clearwire holds a healthy amount of spectrum, which is why Sprint is so eager to maintain its relationship with the company, even if Clearwire has historically struggled to make money.

Photo via William Ross/Flickr

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

FreedomPop is a company with disruption on its mind.

Three months after introducing its free mobile broadband service, FreedomPop is at it again with an option aimed at home broadband users.

Meant as an alternative to similar 4G broadband services from Clear Wireless and Netzero, FreedomPop will offer users 1GB of free data with its basic plan. But it’s banking that its customers are going to want a bit more, which is why it also offers larger data plans starting at $10 a month.

Alongside the launch, FreedomPop is also introducing the Hub Burst, its 4G modem that doubles as a wireless router. The device will sell for $89 starting next month, and Freedom Pop is currently taking orders for it.

By offering low-cost home broadband, FreedomPop says that aims to disrupt the vicegrip companies like Time Warner and Comcast have over the home broadband industry.

The only problem, however, is FreedomPop’s use of WiMax, which is known to be sluggish and not particularly reliable. While FreedomPop’s business model may work for mobile broadband, it might be a tougher sell for in-home broadband. We’ll see how this disruptive experiment plays out over the next few months.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Mysterious wireless company FreedomPop will soon offer an iPhone case with a WiMax radio inside and free access to a 1GB data plan, according to a TechCrunch report.

FreedomPop will be mimicking NetZero’s just-announced plan to offer a freemium model for wireless service. Users from both FreedomPop and NetZero will get some access free and then pay for more data on top of the free allotment. NetZero has a plan system, while FreedomPop will charge $10 per GB over the free gig of data.

The FreedomPop case will basically act as mobile hotspot, can run up to 30 hours, and can share its connection with up to eight devices. The iPhone case will cost a deposit around $100, but the money can be refunded to customers if they return the case in good condition.

Clearwire, the troubled wireless company that provides Sprint and NetZero with 4G data, will be providing the data for FreedomPop’s device. Clearwire’s WiMax service isn’t as impressive speed-wise as Verizon Wireless and AT&T’s LTE networks, but it’s still generally faster than 3G data networks.

There’s no word on availability for the product, but we’ll let you know as soon as we hear more.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

NetZero surprised the world when it offered up free ad-supported Internet access back in 1998. Now the company will soon try to bring its cost-effective approach to Web access with a low-cost no-contract 4G wireless data service.

“Our service gives customers the freedom to take the Internet anywhere in our coverage area, without being tied to public Wi-Fi service or having to purchase higher-cost, sometimes multi-year plans offered by other mobile broadband providers,” said Mark Goldston, CEO of NetZero-parent United Online, in a statement.

To get access, customers first have to buy a $50 NetZero 4G Stick or a $100 NetZero 4G Hotspot. NetZero then offers up to 200MB of data usage per month for free and then pricing escalates when you need more, as you can see in the pricing structure below:

The pricing on the lower tiers is fairly inexpensive and gives nice flexibility. But once you start getting up to the 4GB usage level, it’s actually more cost-effective to use T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon Wireless. Each of those offers either 5GB or 6GB of data for about $50 a month whereas NetZero is 4G for $50 a month.

NetZero is backed by the troubled Clearwire company, which is partially owned by Sprint. Clearwire offers WiMAX 4G, but that type of data technology has been pushed aside by more popular LTE. But perhaps with this new arrangement, WiMAX can find a place in the market as a lower-cost alternative to LTE. Clearwire’s WiMAX network covers 82 cities across the U.S. and surrounding areas, so be sure to do your research before buying in.

Girl using computer: Lucky Business/Shutterstock

More bad news for the struggling WiMAX wireless network Clearwire. Google is preparing to sell off its entire stake in the company, according to SEC documents filed by the search giant today.

Google originally purchased a 6.5 percent stake in Clearwire back in 2008 for a cool $500 million. The initial appeal of Clearwire was its faster 4G WiMAX wireless network, which has since fallen behind the new wireless carrier standard of LTE. More recently, Clearwire has struggled to pay its operating bills, forcing its majority shareholder Sprint to lend it an injection of cash.

The documents state that Google is seeking to get $1.60 per share for a total of $47 million — less than one-tenth the price it originally paid for Clearwire’s share. On the surface it seems that Google is simply trying to get rid of its involvement in an investment that doesn’t have any growing possibilities for the other parts of its business. However, it’s very likely Google expects Clearwire to fail, which could be one reason for the fire sale on its stake in the company.

Google’s shares will become available for sale February 27.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

In yet another step away from bankruptcy, wholesale wireless provider Clearwire announced yesterday that it plans to raise $595 million via two sales of common stock.

The news comes on the heels of Sprint’s massive $1.6 billion deal with the company last week, which grants Sprint unlimited access to Clearwire’s WiMax 4G network. The sale will add some much-needed cash to Clearwire’s coffers — the company has been struggling to be profitable over the past few quarters.

Clearwire says it will raise $300 million from a public offering of its Class A common stock, and it will also offer a 30-day window to let its underwriters purchase up to another $45 million in Class A stock. Sprint — Clearwire’s largest shareholder — will buy $295 million worth of Class B stock in another private transaction. The money will be used to help build Clearwire’s LTE 4G network (the company will continue to operate its WiMax 4G network until 2015), as well as for other operating expenses.

By selling such a significant amount of stock, the company risks diluting the value of its existing shares, UBS AG analyst John Hodulik tells Bloomberg. If Clearwire offered the stock at $2 a share, it “would dilute existing shareholders by about 33 percent based on Clearwire’s 915 million shares outstanding,” Hodulik wrote in a research note.

With the rise of LTE and the clear decline of WiMax as a viable competitor, it seemed that Clearwire’s days were numbered. The company managed to deploy the first 4G network in the US, but being early didn’t help Clearwire and Sprint to attract a huge number of new subscribers. It certainly didn’t help that WiMax 4G was only marginally faster than the 3G speeds offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. Now, with its $1.6 billion Sprint deal and this stock sale, Clearwire may finally be able to find its footing once again.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Sprint customers may have to wait longer than anticipated to get their hands on fast new 4G LTE phones.

Sprint CFO Joseph Euteneuer said yesterday that he expects LTE devices to be released in the second half of next year, while speaking at a UBS conference in New York City. Previously, Sprint has indicated a summer 2012 release for its LTE phones.

Euteneuer says it’s likely that the LTE devices will be released in the third quarter (which falls in line with the original summer timeline), and he expects “a number of different models” to be available. Sprint is playing catch-up to both Verizon Wireless, which launched 4G LTE phones earlier this year, and AT&T, which just launched its third LTE phone.

Sprint, America’s third-largest carrier, is currently rushing to keep pace with its bigger competitors when it comes to LTE. Verizon has by far the biggest lead, but AT&T also plans to have a significant LTE presence come the end of next year. Sprint has said it plans to cover 120 million people with its LTE network by the end of 2012, and 250 million by the end of 2012. In comparison, Verizon will have around 200 million people covered by the end of this year.

Euteneuer also announced that Sprint has begun operating its first multi-mode radio, which can broadcast both 4G LTE and 3G CDMA signals. He also reiterated that the company plans to continue using WiMax through 2015.

Via Cnet

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

AT&T has been maligned for years because of the poor quality and reliability of its network, but the wireless carrier was thrown a major bone by Apple on Monday with its new iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S chipset supports the fastest 4G-like data speeds on AT&T, but only works on slower 3G networks on Verizon and Sprint.

The exact same iPhone 4S models will be sold on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint starting on Oct. 14. Each of those carriers will use marketing to help differentiate why a customer should pick their network. While each of the three networks has good points, AT&T might have the most convincing argument for technology enthusiasts: pure speed.

Since the iPhone 4S does not offer true 4G like LTE or WiMAX, it was thought by many to be underwhelming. Apple likely didn’t include LTE or WiMAX because they are major battery killers, but the company did increase data speeds to match other HSPDA AT&T phones such as the HTC Inspire 4G and LG Thrill 4G.

The new iPhone 4S supports what is called 14.4 HSDPA data. This means the phone can have download speeds up to 14.4 Mbps and upload speeds up to 5.8 Mbps on supported networks. AT&T offers 14.4 HSDPA in many of its markets already, and a spokesperson told me the company “expects” two-thirds of the company’s 3G network to offer 14.4 or greater HSDPA peak speeds by the end of the year. If you want to watch streaming movies, listen to streaming music or download large apps, AT&T will unquestionably be the fastest network.

Verizon and Sprint are another story. The 3G speeds on both networks typically fluctuate between 600 kbps and 1.4 Mbps for downloads, and between 500 and 800 kbps for uploads. Customers will likely see peaks speeds up to 2.5 Mbps (I’ve seen this speed on both networks), but it is not consistent. Watching Netflix movies or streaming songs from Rdio will be a lot less enjoyable using Verizon and Sprint’s 3G data networks.

When it comes to finding ways to compensate for slower data speeds, Verizon and Sprint do have some big advantages. First, Verizon has the strongest and most reliable voice network, so if you call people all the time, Verizon might be a more suitable choice. Second, Sprint is the only carrier of the three to offer an unlimited data package, and it has as well as the least expensive monthly pricing.

AT&T is typically the least reliable of the three above networks at establishing voice and data connections. But the network has gotten better over the years, as it has added enhanced backhaul for faster speeds and added more coverage to better compete with Verizon’s expansive 3G network.

As someone who will likely purchase an iPhone 4S, I’ve had to take all of these factors into consideration. As a denizen of New York City, all three networks have done their best at providing high-quality 3G coverage. In real testing, Verizon’s voice network is the best while AT&T provides the fastest data speeds. Sprint has been reliable in voice and data, but it hasn’t dramatically stood out. I’ll have to continue weighing all the pros and cons, but if I’m being honest, speed matters most and AT&T will be the best choice for that.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

We’re a few hours away from Apple’s next iPhone unveiling, but one thing we can be pretty sure of at this point is that it won’t support new 4G LTE and WiMax networks.

People “familiar with the company’s plans” say that Apple won’t be adopting the new cellular technologies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Plenty of rumors and analysis over the past year made it clear that LTE is too immature for Apple to implement in the iPhone 5 and that the company likely wouldn’t even attempt WiMax, since those networks are beginning to show their age. I’ve argued since May that you shouldn’t bet on an LTE iPhone coming this year.

The latest Wall Street Journal report doesn’t rule out the potential for the iPhone 5 to support HSPA+ networks, which are marketed as 4G by AT&T and T-Mobile since they perform much faster than standard 3G networks.

But if the iPhone 5 does support HSPA+, users on CDMA networks like Verizon and Sprint will miss out on the faster speeds, since HSPA+ is based on 3G GSM technology, which is only supported by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Catching up with Verizon Wireless and AT&T, Sprint is gearing up to launch its own 4G LTE network early next year.

The LTE network is expected to arrive during the first or second quarter of 2012, CNet reports, citing people familiar with the carrier’s plans. It will be a part of Sprint’s previously announced  Network Vision plan, which will cost the carrier somewhere between $4 billion and $5 billion over the next three to five years to revamp its network with new equipment.

The new network would give Sprint a more competitive offering against Verizon and AT&T’s LTE 4G networks. Sprint currently relies on Clearwire’s 4G network, which uses the slower WiMax standard. By relying on Clearwire (which Sprint also has a majority share in), the carrier was able to launch its 4G network long before its competitors. Now, LTE technology is trouncing WiMax in network speeds, leaving Sprint with the task of modernizing its network quickly.

As CNet’s Roger Cheng explains:

Sprint is opting to use its D-block spectrum, which it got from its acquisition of Nextel. Sprint plans to also use spectrum that will be freed up once it shuts down its Nextel network, which runs on a 2G technology called iDEN, best known for its walkie-talkie-like feature. The company previously said it expects to shut down the iDEN network by 2013.

Cheng says that Sprint will use the same FD-LTE standard as Verizon and Lightsquared, which recently signed an agreement to pay Sprint $9 billion to use its network infrastructure. Lightsquared is still having trouble getting its network off the ground, due to concerns from the FCC that it may interfere with GPS equipment.

Sprint will also maintain its relationship with Clearwire, which recently announced plans to build its own LTE network, though with the differing TD-LTE standard. Cheng says that Sprint will use equipment that runs both LTE standards, allowing Clearwire devices to run on its future network.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

The plethora of 4G-equipped Android devices released over the last year has made the platform a leader in 4G. Thirty-seven percent of Android phones in the US offer some form of 4G, reports the app analytics firm Localytics.

That’s an impressive figure, considering that 4G Android phones accounted for just 22.6 percent of all Android devices at the beginning of the year. The number of 4G Android phones has grown more than 50 percent in the last year, and it isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Of course, it makes sense that Android would be spearheading 4G adoption, since no other major platform offers the faster cellular technology yet. Apple isn’t expected to include any form of 4G in the iPhone 5, and 4G Windows Phone devices are still on the horizon.

For developers and users alike, Android’s dominance in 4G can only be a good thing. Eventually 4G networks will be as prominent in the US as current 3G networks, so the sooner 4G devices get into consumers’ hands, and the sooner developers start creating apps and services to take advantage of 4G, the better.

According to Localytics, the HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon’s LTE 4G network is the most popular 4G phone in the country. Behind it is the Evo 4G on Sprint’s WiMax 4G network, and the Samsung Droid Charge on Verizon. Both T-Mobile and AT&T offer 4G networks using the HSPA+ standard, and AT&T just recently launched its LTE network in five cities.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Apple has been working together with Sprint to develop an iPad compatible with its network, and it may be ready to launch together or soon after Sprint’s iPhone in October, reports 9to5Mac.

Neither Sprint nor Apple have confirmed that the carrier will be getting the iPhone 5 this year, but multiple rumors have strongly hinted that will happen. Most recently, Sprint blocked out dates for a “major phone launch” in early October.

It wouldn’t be too surprising to see the iPad on Sprint once it does get the iPhone. When the Verizon iPhone was officially announced earlier this year, the carrier was quick to confirm that it would be offering iPads compatible with its network as well.

Intriguingly, 9to5Mac notes that the Sprint version of the iPad will be completely different from the Verizon model, even though both networks use the same CDMA standard. Apple could potentially be eyeing a 4G WiMax version of the iPad exclusively for Sprint, notes the site, though I doubt that’s the case. Sprint’s WiMax network is looking dated these days, and Apple would be better off spending time developing a 4G LTE iPad, which would be supported on more carriers worldwide.

Still, it’s an interesting fantasy, since Sprint remains the only US carrier with unlimited data plans. And from what we hear, the carrier will be milking its unlimited data offerings to help market its iPhone.

Sprint’s 4G network uses 4G Wimax technology, which isn’t very impressive compared to 4G networks from other carriers. Still, for resellers it will certainly serve its purpose.

Initially, the 4G Sprint products include the HTC Detail (a.k.a. EVO Shift) and the Sierra Wireless 250U data card, but the company plans to offer more in the next few months.

While Sprint is the first major U.S. carrier to offer wholesale access to its 4G network, the reselling model isn’t necessarily new territory. Currently, the company offers a variety of 3G rebrandable products.

Sprint 4G is available in 71 markets across the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. operated over the Clearwire 4G network.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Wireless carrier Sprint announced today it has struck a 15-year agreement with upcoming 4G wireless provider LightSquared, which could allow Sprint to move on from WiMax 4G to more-promsing 4G LTE technology.

The news is good for Sprint, which reported an $847 million second quarter loss. The LightSquared deal would give Sprint $9 billion in cash and credits over 11 years to build a 4G LTE network that LightSquared can sell wholesale and Sprint can offer to its customers.

The deal suggests Sprint will likely move to LightSquared 4G from its current Clearwire-backed WiMax 4G. Clearwire and WiMax 4G have been a strain on the company, so moving to 4G LTE with a partner that has cash on hand makes sense.

The deal “presents tremendous opportunity for both companies,” according to Dan Hays, who regularly follows the telecom industry for global consulting firm PRTM.

“For Sprint, this will defray a significant portion of its planned capital investment while providing an opportunity to tap into LightSquared’s 4G technology,” said Hays via e-mail. “For LightSquared, this deal will dramatically reduce the cost and time required to deploy its nationwide, mobile broadband network to hundreds of millions of Americans.”

Reston, VA-based LightSquared has raised more than $2.3 billion in the last 12 months, with $265 million being invested early this month. The company has been in the news recently because its proposed 4G LTE technology apparently causes network interference problems for GPS devices. The company responded to these claims by moving the launch of its network to a new slice of spectrum, which “resolves the GPS interference issue for 99.5% of all commercial GPS devices,” it said in a statement.

Ron Westfall, an infrastructure research director at Current Analysis, said another issue with the deal will be winning FCC approval. The FCC has yet to approve LightSquared’s efforts to resolve the aforementioned GPS issues.

“The LightSquared proposal misses fully resolving LightSquared’s GPS interference issues, since specially designed high precision GPS receivers also use the same spectrum,” Westfall told VentureBeat. “Thus there is concern the FCC may give LightSquared the thumbs down.”

Sprint has a clear incentive to better its 4G technology for the future. If AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile goes through, Sprint will be the lowest-cost carrier in the U.S. and the clear budget alternative to Verizon and AT&T.

But in the short term, the deal won’t affect Sprint’s ability to compete with AT&T and Verizon in the 4G battle and it will have to rely on WiMax to keep attracting customers.

“It’s too early to judge how much this deal will drive Sprint’s ability to compete more effectively with Verizon and AT&T in the 4G realm,” Westfall said. “If all goes according to plan (and there are plenty of ifs here), then it will prove good news for consumers and businesses, especially in rural and underserved markets.”

What do you think of the Sprint and LightSquared deal?

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Wholesale wireless network provider LightSquared will move the launch of its wireless network to a new block of spectrum after tests showed its current network plans interfered with GPS-enabled devices, the company announced Thursday.

LightSquared filed a proposal with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch its network on a lower block of the wireless spectrum than initially planned. The company said its revised plans for the network introduce a new system that does not interfere with 99.5 percent of all commercial GPS devices. It also does not interfere at all with any GPS-enabled cell phone, the company said.

The original 10 megahertz-block of wireless spectrum is used by satellites. But the FCC opened that block of spectrum up for ground-based wireless network providers earlier this year to give consumers more wireless access.

Government tests showed LightSquared’s wireless signal interfered with GPS devices on its planned block of spectrum. The receivers either lost signal strength or were completely disabled by LightSquared’s signal within the testing zone. The Federal Aviation Administration also found that aircraft flying below 2,000 feet were unable to use GPS equipment in cities and other densely-populated areas employing LightSquared’s mobile broadband network.

There is a finite amount of the wireless spectrum available for wireless network providers. So it’s no short order to make a wireless network broadcast on a new set of spectrum, and it has to be approved by the FCC. The amount of available spectrum is also rapidly decreasing because smartphones use 24 times the amount of spectrum that cell phones use, and tablets use 120 times the spectrum that cell phones use.

The Reston, Va.-based company said it expects its wireless service to be available to consumers in the first half of 2012. LightSquared has signed deals to distribute access to its wireless network through Best Buy, Sprint and Leap.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Sprint is nearing a deal with wholesale 4G LTE company LightSquared to build and share networks that could give Sprint a whopping $20 billion, Businessweek reports.

Sources tell the magazine that the deal would span 15 years and allow LightSquared to build its LTE network more quickly, while sharing the cost of the rollout with Sprint.

It could be a win-win for both companies: Sprint is in desperate need of more cash and a LTE 4G network to replace its aging WiMax 4G technology, and LightSquared needs as much network capacity as possible for its wholesale service.

LightSquared’s wholesale network lets any company become a 4G LTE carrier. The company announced in March that Best Buy will be using its network to power 4G for the Best Buy Connect mobile broadband service.

Sprint could get up to $2 billion annual from LightSquared during initial stages of the deal to help cover construction costs, the sources say. Afterwards, payments will be based on the number of customers on LightSquared’s network and their usage.

This wouldn’t be the first major partnership for Sprint. The carrier merged its WiMax 4G operations with Clearwire years ago, in which it now holds a non-controlling majority share. That helped Sprint become the first carrier to launch a 4G network. But now that LTE technology has matured, Sprint’s current WiMax 4G network isn’t looking as impressive.

According to Credit Suisse Group analyst Jonathan Chaplin, the LightSquared deal could help Sprint save $240 million in annual costs, and it could also be worth $1.2 billion in recurring revenue.

LightSquare was founded by billionaire Philip Falcone and is backed by his Harbinger Capital Partners hedge fund in New York.

We’ll be exploring the most disruptive mobile trends at our fourth annual MobileBeat 2011 conference, on July 12-13 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. It will focus on the rise of 4G and how it delivers the promise of true mobile computing. We’re also accepting entries for our mobile startup competition at the show. MobileBeat is co-located with our GamesBeat 2011 conference this year. To register, click on this link. Sponsors can message us at sponsors@venturebeat.com.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

T-Mobile isn’t slowing down with network upgrades, even though it may be wedded to AT&T in a year.

The carrier this morning announced that it’s bringing its 4G HSPA+ network to 10 new cities, and it’s also moving forward with plans to double its 4G speeds to 42 megabits per second in some markets.

The faster speeds — which will soon launch in Las Vegas, New York and Orlando — will put T-Mobile well above Verizon’s brand-new LTE 4G network, which has theoretical download speeds of up to 21 Mbps. It’s much easier for T-Mobile to expand its 4G network since it isn’t relying on newfangled LTE or WiMax 4G technology — HSPA+ is more like a suped-up 3G technology.

In the end, most consumers won’t care how their network is getting faster — they just want to see their download speeds go up. HSPA+ is already available on several T-Mobile devices, although only newer devices will be able to take advantage of the full 42 Mbps speeds. The technology also has battery life advantages over LTE and WiMax, both of which require power-hungry radios in mobile devices.

T-Mobile’s new 4G markets include Ames, Iowa; Anderson, Indiana; Battle Creek, Benton Harbor and Jackson, Michigan; Fort Collins-Loveland, Colorado; Lawrence and Manhattan, Kansas; Springfield, Illinois and Wichita Falls, Texas.

T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network now covers over 200 million people. Before the AT&T deal, T-Mobile said it expected HSPA+ to dominate LTE over the next few years, reaching as many as 2.5 billion people by 2015. Eventually, an advanced version of HSPA+ could reach speeds of a whopping 672Mbps.

But if the AT&T purchase goes through, we can expect far less HSPA+ innovation from the combined company, since AT&T is betting on LTE as its go-to 4G technology (with its slower HSPA+ picking up the slack).

Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we’ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. We’ve pretty much finalized the invite list, but have a few spots left. Request an invitation.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Sprint may have been the first US carrier to deploy a 4G network, but it may be paying the price for being an early adopter of WiMax 4G technology.

According to a series of 1,000 speed tests conducted by BTIG Research in New York City over the past few weeks, Sprint’s 4G network gets download speeds of around 1 megabit per second on average — far slower than even 3G networks on rival carriers. By comparison, Verizon’s 4G network — which runs on competing LTE technology — achieved download speeds nearly 10 times as fast on average.

The test reveals Sprint’s deep dark secret about its 4G network: it’s simply not that fast. That’s mainly due to the company putting its weight behind WiMax technology years before it could see the potential of LTE. Now with faster LTE networks being deployed by Verizon and AT&T, Sprint’s going to have a hard time convincing consumers that they should pay extra for its slower 4G speeds.

BTIG tested the networks by using the wireless hotspot functionality on Sprint’s flagship Evo 4G phone and Verizon’s recently launched HTC Thunderbolt. The research firm tracked the speeds of both an iPad 2 and a Toshiba laptop connected to the hotspots.

Indoors, Verizon’s network averaged download speeds of 8.3 Mbps and upload speeds of 4.47 Mbps. Sprint’s, on the other hand, clocked in at 1.19 Mbps down and .39 Mbps up. You can see the full speed results in the chart below. BTIG also pointed out that Verizon’s network was more reliable, and the Thunderbolt achieved better battery life than the Evo.

It should be noted that BTIG’s Sprint 4G speeds seem slower than other speed tests, where Sprint normally achieves download speeds of around 2 Mbps to 3 Mbps. But even that seems difficult to call 4G — both AT&T and T-Mobile’s 3G networks can hit those speeds without issue. And when you compare Sprint’s 4G speeds to Verizon’s ridiculously fast LTE, it definitely seems like Sprint 4G customers are getting shortchanged.

Update: Sprint has responded to BTIG’s test:

We work closely with an independent third party research company which reports regularly to us on real-world, scientifically tested speeds and the results we see do not match what Piecyk found. We’ve recently seen speeds in NYC (inclusive of New Jersey) averaging 4-5Mbps download. We’re confident in the speed, latency and dependability of our current 4G network and in our 4G average download speed claim of 3-6Mbps with peak speeds of more than 10 Mbps download. And the Sprint 4G network will only continue to get better from here.

The Verizon 4G LTE network is very new so no one has any fully time-tested data on it yet. As their network gets loaded and more than just one smartphone comes forward on their network, we can better assess its capabilities. In the early days of 4G for Sprint, we saw some very high speed numbers when the Network was launched (much higher than our current speed claims) but what ultimately matters to customers is a consistent, long-standing experience based on a network loaded with customers.

Via Boy Genius Report

Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we’ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. We’ve pretty much finalized the invite list, but have a few spots left. Request an invitation.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Intel said today it has bought most of the assets of Cairo-based SySDSoft as part of an effort to move into 4G LTE communications.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move is a shift for Intel, which has long supported WiMax as a strategic effort in high-speed, long-range wireless internet. But 4G LTE has caught hold, and carriers such as Verizon Wireless are deploying it in the U.S. The deal also shows that multinational companies are ready to place bets on Egyptian talent in the wake of the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

Intel will hire roughly 100 of SySDSoft’s engineers in Egypt. Privately held SySDSoft makes software for embedded wireless systems. Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital, the chip maker’s venture arm, said the acquisition is the first of its kind that Intel’s undertaken in the Middle East. Intel has huge operations in Israel, but not so much in the predominantly Arab countries.

SySDSoft designs software for use in wireless mobile platforms related to technologies such as WiMax, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wireless USB, CDMA-DO and LTE. SySDSoft will be part of Intel Mobile Communications. Intel still has a lot of WiMax efforts under way.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

There’s trouble brewing over at Clearwire, the 4G network company in which Sprint holds a non-controlling majority stake. Chief executive Bill Morrow has resigned from his positions as CEO and executive board director, citing the usual “personal reasons,” the company announced today.

Current Clearwire chairman of the board John Stanton will replace Morrow as interim CEO. Stanton was formerly the head of VoiceStream Wireless, a company that in 2001 was bought out by Deutsche Telekom and was soon after renamed to T-Mobile.

Stanton’s rise in the company seems curious given that only a few days ago we reported that Sprint may be in talks to buy T-Mobile. The news also follows Clearwire’s abandonment of its retail strategy last month. Now the company is dedicated to being a wholesale network provider.

Clearwire was the first company in the U.S. to begin building a WiMax 4G network. It merged with Sprint’s WiMax 4G operation in 2008, and its investors include Sprint and Comcast. Sprint relies on Clearwire for its 4G network, and Comcast also sells wireless service on the network.

The company’s early bet on WiMax 4G technology may be part of the reason it’s having so much trouble now. AT&T and Verizon both decided to adopt the competing LTE 4G technology instead, and Sprint is also reportedly considering a shift to LTE in the future. Clearwire is planning an LTE network as well, but the cash-strapped company likely won’t be able to keep up with its bigger competitors.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Sprint may be gearing up to take the upcoming CTIA wireless trade show by storm: The company is supposedly planning to launch a 4G version of the Nexus S, a 3D version of the EVO  4G, and a tablet dubbed the EVO View, Engadget reports.

Sprint has scheduled a massive two-and-a-half hour presentation at CTIA. That’s a sign that the company is going to launch some major new products. Most company presentations at trade shows run between 45 and 90 minutes. The CTIA conference takes place March 22 to March 24 in Orlando, Fla.

The Nexus S 4G will be an updated version of the phone for Sprint’s WiMAX 4G network (the phone originally launched in December on T-Mobile’s network). The EVO 3D will be a 3D update of the popular EVO 4G smartphone (expect to see plenty of 3D phones this year), while the EVO View is likely a renamed HTC Flyer tablet.

If accurate, this is a solid, but not groundbreaking, lineup for Sprint at CTIA. The carrier didn’t have much to show at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, aside from the diminutive EVO Shift 4G. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless ruled CES with its 4G LTE lineup, which included some of the hottest devices at the show, like Motorola’s Xoom tablet.

At this point, Sprint’s 4G network is beginning to look slow and obsolete even compared to T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network, which was originally just an improved version of its 3G network. T-Mobile’s 4G network was recently shown to be slightly faster than Sprint’s, and the company has said that its 4G speed will be doubled to 42 megabits per second by the end of 2011. Sprint was the first company to deploy its 4G network, but now it looks like it may be paying the price for jumping into the 4G pool so soon.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

The first wave of smartphones for Verizon’s LTE 4G network will include entries from HTC, Motorola and Samsung, judging from the rash of early hardware photos hitting gadget sites over the past few days.

We’ve known for some time that Android manufacturers were working on LTE 4G phones, but the photos in the wild tell us that they’re closer to release than we’ve previously thought. Manufacturers are most likely gearing up to finalize their hardware to show off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in two weeks.

In fact, it’s pretty certain that HTC will show off its Verizon LTE phone at CES, and that it will be the first manufacturer to do so. A few days ago, the company launched a site which teases that it will be “the first to 4G, again” — a reference to the Evo 4G and G2, the first 4G phones on Sprint and T-Mobile respectively. Prior to that, several gadget sites received leaked photos of the company’s upcoming “Mecha” device, which may land on Verizon as the “Incredible HD.”

A few days ago, Samsung’s LTE 4G entry was leaked to Gizmodo, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Motorola was officially working on a LTE phone for Verizon (not that there was ever any connection).

Verizon launched its supposedly super-fast LTE 4G network on December 5, but at the moment only a few 4G USB modems can take advantage of it. Obviously, the carrier needs 4G handsets as soon as possible to compete with flagship models from Sprint and T-Mobile.

AT&T is still mum on its LTE 4G network, and Sprint’s WiMAX 4G network (a competing standard to LTE) has been online for a few years. T-Mobile has dubbed its HSPA+ network 4G, even though AT&T currently regards that technology as a stop-gap between 3G and 4G.

Image via Gizmodo

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Following the news of Sprint’s 4G network deployment in New York, T-Mobile is now boasting that it has the largest 4G network in America with 75 metropolitan areas covered.

The carrier says it plans to have 200 million Americans covered by its HSPA+ network by the end of the year. At first it will feature speeds of around 21Mbps, a significant bump from average 3G speeds of 2 to 5Mbps. The technology can be scaled to support faster 42Mbps speeds in 2011, and it can potentially go as high as 84 and 168Mbps. It’s new markets include Chicago, Raleigh-Durham and Louisville.

One good thing about T-Mobile’s 4G network is that many existing devices already support it, although older devices won’t be able to take advantage of the network’s full speed. T-Mobile’s official 4G devices include the MyTouch 4G and recently-released T-Mobile G2. The carrier also announced a netbook that supports its 4G network, the Dell Mini 10 4G. Older devices like the G1, original MyTouch, HD2, and Behold II will see speeds nearly doubled from typical 3G, topping out around 7Mbps.

Just like its competitors, T-Mobile’s definition of “4G” is somewhat cloudy. Sprint is deploying a network based on WiMax technology, and both Verizon and AT&T are looking into LTE technology for their next-generation networks. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is technically considered 3.5G technology, and it’s also something that AT&T is looking to use as a stop-gap upgrade before deploying LTE 4G.

But then again, a recent statement by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency dedicated to promoting telecom standards, found that only WiMAX 2 and LTE-Advanced technology are truly 4G. That means every 4G network currently being deployed in the US is an impostor — so T-Mobile has just as much a right to promote its HSPA+ network as 4G as its competitors. In a recent data speed showdown, T-Mobile’s network actually ranked higher than Sprint’s 4G.

To help promote its new network, T-Mobile is rolling out an ad campaign that’s completely Apple-inspired. Check out the first ad below:

Via Engadget

Beceem is the first company to develop a 4G “multimode platform” that can work on both LTE and WiMax 4G networks. Its technology can support peak speeds of up to 200Mbps and will give device manufacturers the freedom to build 4G devices without worrying what type of network they will be used on.

The purchase will supplement Broadcom’s move into 4G cellular networks. The company is already well-known for its 3G and 2G cellular solutions as well as other communication technology such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It’s also the perfect time for Broadcom to gear up for 4G — Sprint’s WiMax coverage is increasing steadily thanks to its partnership with Clearwire, Verizon is readying the launch of its LTE network for this year, and AT&T plans to roll out its LTE network in 2012.

The LTE and WiMax technology divide is similar to the CDMA and GSM split that has kept cellular networks apart for some time. Similar to how you can’t use a Sprint CDMA phone on AT&T’s GSM network, you won’t be able to use a WiMax Sprint phone on AT&T’s LTE network. Beceem’s unifying technology solves that problem, which should put Broadcom in a good position once more cellular carriers and device manufacturers are ready to go 4G.

Beceem showed similar foresight years ago when it was one of the first companies to develop a mobile WiMax chipset. At the time, Intel was reselling the company’s chips for its own WiMax efforts. Now LTE looks like it will be the leading 4G standard, but Beceem wisely pivoted its technology to support both networks.

Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Beceem has raised at least $80 million since it was founded in 2003. We’re awaiting more complete funding details from the company.

Getting content noticed is a challenge for everyone making apps. Join us at DiscoveryBeat 2010 and hear secrets from top industry executives about how to break through and profit in the new cross-platform app ecosystem. From metrics to monetization, we’ll take an in depth look at the best discovery strategies and why they’re working. See the full agenda here. The conference takes place on October 18 at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco. To register, click here. Hurry though. Tickets are limited, and going fast.

A123 opens largest lithium-ion battery plant in the U.S.

Siemens has launched a renewable energy business in India, focusing on wind and solar. It has hired 30 employees and plans to grow to 100. The company was persuaded in part by government and economic incentives. CleanTechnica notes India is one of the fastest-growing cleantech markets thanks to a growing wind sector and a strong solar industry.

Amp announced today it has signed an agreement to electrify a big-brand SUV for a major automaker, saying it should finish within two months — but the company didn’t name names. Amp is behind the electricfications of the Saturn Sky and Chevrolet Equinox. A statement touted the company’s “scalability and nimbleness” to help manufacturers quickly go into mass production from a pre-existing model.

Smart grid networking player Grid Net announced a partnership today with Sprint that will connect meters and routers on its smart grid platform through the carrier’s 4G network. Pairing the sexy and fast 4G network with smart meter communications could be a strong selling tool — in Grid Net’s case, it means faster data transfer paired with secure WiMax products. Grid Net is unique — and alone — in the smart grid field for championing the use of the WiMax protocol in the ongoing protocol war between smart grid companies.

Aurora Biofuels is no more. The company announced today it has changed its name to Aurora Algae, effectively repositioning itself in a crowded biofuels market by no longer tying its name or products to just biofuels. Instead, it will leverage its proprietary strain of algae to produce pharmaceuticals, protein bars and oils that can be used in hand creams – a telling move in a biofuels world, where companies are plagued by investor reluctance, high start-up costs and technology that, while promising, is years away from commercialization.

The average Nissan Leaf buyer is a baby boomer. The 19,000 or so would-be Leaf buyers who have reserved a spot in line for Nissan’s all-electric car are, on average, 45 years old, earn $125,000 a year and own a home. Three-quarters of buyers to date opted for the SL trim package on the world’s first all-electric, mass-produced car. The package includes a solar panel on the rear spoiler and allows for a $700 fast-charge option; it retails for $33,500 before government rebates. Most buyers already drive a hybrid like the Prius, but few have ever owned a Nissan – a good sign for the carmaker’s broadening allure.

The White House says no to solar panels on its roof. A group of college activists with the campaign “Put Solar On It” pushed President Obama to put solar on the White House roof but were “politely rebuffed,” the New York Times reports.

Tesla, PowerSecure and Vicor added to NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index. The index tracks the performance of publicly traded cleantech companies. The index is reranked every March and September, and in this round, removed five companies: Ballard Power Systems, Capstone Turbine, Evergreen Solar, FuelCell Energy and UQM Technologies.

Nissan reportedly delayed taking orders until tomorrow for the Leaf, the first electric car designed for mass-market consumer use. The suggested retail price is $32,780, though a tax credit of up to $7,500 could mean you pay something closer to $25,280. You can also look at the optional equipment Nissan is offering at the link above. But if you don’t already have a reservation, expect to wait six to nine months.

Breakthrough chlorophyll discovery could lead to cheaper biofuels. Scientists have found a new form of chlorophyll that “scavenges” part of the light spectrum that other forms of cholrophyll don’t absorb. The “scavenger” chlorophyll could be used to make cheaper biofuel oils by developing more efficient strains of algae that can process a broader spectrum of light.

California approves the first new solar thermal power plant in the U.S. in 20 years. The Beacon Solar Energy Project is run by Next Era Energy Resources. Several other solar projects are awaiting the green light from state regulators by year’s end, when federal incentives for such projects expire.

Smart meter company Landis + Gyr strikes deal with Wimax networking company Grid Net. Landis + Gyr, a major international smart meter player, plans to license Grid Net’s WiMax-based software and sell them in Australia and New Zealand. The company also has the option to expand this relationship globally.

Lumenergi closed a $12.7 million second round funding led by Braemar Energy Ventures last week. The company makes energy-efficient networked lighting systems currently popular with new government buildings, and they plan to develop their lighting control systems to work for large-scale commercial and industrial sites.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Motorola announced today that it would be selling its wireless equipment division — which supplies wireless infrastructure to cellular carriers like Verizon and Sprint Nextel –  to Nokia Siemens for $1.2 billion.

The deal would land Nokia Siemens — a joint venture between its Finnish and German parent companies — relationships with more than 50 wireless operators, and “strengthen relationships with others.” The division provides products and services for a variety of wireless networks. According to the press release, it’s a “market leader in WiMAX [4G network technology], with 41 contracts in 21 countries; has a strong global footprint in CDMA with 30 active networks in 22 countries; and a robust GSM installed base, with more than 80 active networks in 66 countries; and excellent traction with LTE early adopters.”

Based on the division’s revenue, Nokia Siemens expects the acquisition to make it the No. 2 wireless infrastructure vendor globally, the No. 3 vendor in the US, and Japan’s No. 1 foreign vendor.

When the deal closes at the end of the year, more than 7,500 employees will move to Nokia Siemens, which has significant research and development operations in the US, China, and India. Motorola will retain its wireless infrastructure patent portfolio as well as its iDEN technology that powers the push-to-talk feature on Sprint Nextel phones.

Motorola has long talked about dividing up its wireless business. It will be spinning off its handset business as Motorola Mobility in the first quarter of next year. Motorola Solutions, which caters to government and corporate clients with products like bar-code scanners and police radios, will be the remainder, according to the AP.

Motorola shares rose 21 cents, or 2.8 percent, Monday morning.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

4G is the next big leap for the mobile industry, and that’s good news for mobile provider Clearwire. Yesterday the company announced new markets for its 4G network, which will bring the next-generation cellular technology to many smaller cities this summer and to larger cities by the end of the year. The news is also good for Sprint, which will see its 4G availability spread as well as a result of its partnership with Clearwire.

Clearwire has added 18 additional cities to its expansion plans for this summer. It previously said it would be rolling out 4G to Kansas City, St. Louis, and Salt Lake City. Now, according to CNET, it has added the following cities:

Nashville, Tenn.; Daytona, Orlando, and Tampa, Fla.; Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Merced, Modesto, Stockton, and Visalia, Calif.; Wilmington, Del.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Eugene, Ore.; and Yakima and Tri-Cities, Wash.

Major cities that Clearwire previously announced coverage for will have to wait until the end of the year for 4G — including New Y0rk, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Clearwire merged with Sprint’s WiMax 4G operation in 2008, and Sprint is now an investor in the company along with Comcast. Both Sprint and Clearwire sell services on the network, as does Comcast in select markets. Clearwire expects to make its network available to 120 million people in the U.S. by the end of 2010 — an increase from the 41 million people it currently covers.

The expansion comes just in time for Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G smartphone, due for release this summer.

Clearwire also announced a change in its agreement with Intel — a leading promoter in WiMax technology — which locked the provider into using WiMax until November 28, 2011. The change will let either Intel or Clearwire leave the agreement with only 30 days notice. This opens up the possibility for Clearwire to utilize LTE, a competing 4G technology that AT&T and Verizon plan to adopt.

Finally, Clearwire said that both Samsung and HTC will be bringing out 4G phones later this year with its Clear brand. The Samsung will be an Android phone “optimized for heavy video and video communications use”, and the HTC is described simply as a “a 3G/4G/WiFi enabled phone.” The HTC phone could be a Windows Phone 7 device, Engadget speculates.