Clearwire: No WiMax-Compatible Smartphone Until Late 2010

"Today Clear said in an interview with Phone Scoop that it does not expect any WiMax-equipped smartphones to hit the market until the very end of 2010. Clear believes that 2011 will see more WiMax phones become available. Clear would not say what hardware or software vendors it is pursuing to bring a smartphone to market..."

Clearwire, provider of the nation's first (and largest) WiMax wireless network announced that we may have to wait until late 2010-2011 before we see WiMax enabled smartphones hit the market that work with their 4G network. Currently, Clearwire is still focusing on improving its service for notebook & desktop PCs.

Although no manufacturers have officially announced availability of Clearwire compatible smartphones, I suspect that HTC and/or Samsung will be the first to the plate since they have already developed WiMax-enabled devices like the HTC Max 4G smartphone and Samsung Mondi mobile internet device. Since Clearwire's WiMax service is data-only, this leaves the option for a VOIP app that can be installed on some existing smartphones, or a dual-mode option that allows WiMax and support for another voice carrier's network. Since Sprint owns a majority of Clearwire, they will more than likely be the first U.S. carrier to offer a dual WiMax/CDMA compatible smartphone.