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By Michael Kanellos, 6 July 2006 09:25

NEWS

Clearwire, which hopes to install WiMax networks that will cover continents, announced on Wednesday it has received $900m in financing from Intel and Motorola and will work with the two giants to popularise the wireless broadband technology.

Under the transaction, Intel Capital, which earlier invested in the company, will put $600m more into Clearwire, the single biggest investment for Intel Capital ever. Meanwhile, Motorola will buy NextNet Wireless, which makes wireless broadband equipment, from Clearwire. Motorola Ventures is also buying a stake in Clearwire.

Additionally, the three companies will co-operate on research, development and deployment. Motorola will sell NextNet equipment to Clearwire, and Intel will concentrate on squeezing WiMax chips into future laptops.

WiMax is a packet-based technology that transmits data faster than current cellular technology and over longer distances than wi-fi gear. Although commercial WiMax offerings are essentially non-existent these days, 175 trials have been kicked off around the world. Ultimately, WiMax will connect computers to the internet as well as carry cellular and voice traffic.

Motorola CEO Ed Zander said in an interview in May: "WiMax is coming, whether you want it, like it or don't like it."

The question hanging over WiMax is, who will pay for the equipment to create WiMax networks? Clearwire's $900m infusion could ease some of that concern.

Sriram Viswanathan, vice president of Intel Capital, said: "Deploying a nationwide network takes a lot of capital." Viswanathan said the funds will also be used for customer acquisition and acquiring spectrum.

Clearwire currently offers a service based on a pre-standard version of WiMax with download speeds of up to 1.5Mbps and upload speeds of up to 256Kbps. The service ranges in price from $30 to $37 per month.

The company, though, currently concentrates on the technologies based around the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard. Viswanathan said: "The economics of standardisation are pretty apparent."

Clearwire also recently announced a marketing deal with AOL to sell a co-branded service in select markets.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in May, Clearwire said it would use funds from a future IPO to expand its network and acquire more radio-frequency spectrum. The Federal Communications Commission is auctioning off slivers of 90MHz radio spectrum in the 1.7GHz to 2.1GHz bands.

Clearwire is likely to bid for some of the 1,122 available licences. But it could face competition from existing wireless providers.

Clearwire was founded by mobile phone pioneer Craig McCaw. It launched its first service in August 2004 and now serves customers in more than 200 cities and towns throughout the world.

McCaw, chairman and co-chief executive of Clearwire, built McCaw Cellular Communications into the first nationwide mobile carrier in the US. In 1997, he sold the business to AT&T for $11.4bn. AT&T Wireless was subsequently spun off by the old the AT&T. It was later acquired by Cingular Communications, which was jointly owned by the new AT&T and BellSouth.

Michael Kanellos writes for CNET News.com