WiMax Resolves Reception Problems?

We are now delivering the promise of WiMAX–high-speed, cost-effective wireless broadband access–to businesses and consumers in cities and suburbs around the world.”

– Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel’s Wireless Broadband division, gets a little ahead of himself in November 2005.

Sprint (S) appears to be rethinking its decision to pull the plug on its WiMax joint venture with Clearwire (CLWR) last fall. Word on the street has it that the two companies are finalizing a partnership to build a nationwide mobile broadband network based on the technology. A joint venture between the two could be announced in a matter of days. And if it is, it may involve a $2 billion cash investment from Intel (INTC).

As it well should. It was Intel, after all, that called WiMax “the most important thing since the Internet itself.” Course, it might as well have said the same thing about time travel, because neither are exactly widely available today.