Sleeper Cell on Clearwire?

Phones with Android let users more easily download software from third party developers. But an Android App Store, featuring “open access” software, could steal the revenue from traditional carriers, explains Market Watch

The T-Mobile Android phone (and T-Mobile’s app store), is currently getting a lot of buzz. T-Mobile will use their new spectrum in the AWS band (1.7GHz/2.1 GHz) for 3G.

But the upcoming 700 Mhz band, and perhaps more importantly Clearwire’s Mobile WiMAX service (using 2.5-2.7GHz) could spell real trouble for the cell companies. It may be the real reason why Verizon and AT&T are trying to kill the $3.4 billion WiMAX joint venture between Sprint, Clearwire, Google, Comcast and Time Warner Cable, speculates Market Watch:

AT&T, the country’s largest wireless carrier in terms of subscribers, says that Sprint and Clearwire haven’t honestly accounted for the amount of spectrum New Clearwire will be able to use to transmit Internet and voice signals.

New Clearwire says it will become home to a broad range of devices, including those running Android. While other operators also have committed publicly about embracing a wider number of devices, they have a history of limiting access to their networks.

Google product manager Larry Alder wrote on a company Web site in May that “Clearwire intends to build and maintain a network that will embrace important openness features,” adding that “the new network will provide wireless consumers with real choices for the software applications, content and handsets that they desire.”

Analysts say AT&T’s bid stands little chance of scuttling the asset merger, but they warn that it could delay New Clearwire’s launch or result in a paring of its spectrum assets.

Clearwire expects to launch the new network in Portland, Ore., before the end of the year, Clearwire’s Johnston said. “But that’s contingent on the timely close of the Sprint [merger] and if we choose to secure interim financing,” the spokeswoman commented.

Meanwhile, USTelematics who supplies connected-car technology, announced an agreement today with American Wireless, one of the largest wireless agents in the U.S., to provide WiMax service in automobiles equipped with USTelematics’ Voyager Mobile IPTV.

Howard Leventhal, CEO of USTelematics said, “Empowering live real broadband TV in the car is a unique capability of WiMax. We expect that our agreement with American Wireless to provide Clearwire service within Voyager will accelerate deployment of WiMax nationwide.”