MARAVEDIS

The Clearwire network faces two basic limitations needed to muster device availability: 1) coverage which determines TAM. total available market size, and 2) Extent of 'true mobility'. Both of these are impacted by operation in 2.5GHz frequency: signals do not travel as far or penetrate as well into buildings and other obstacles between base stations and users.

Handset manufacturers thinking about developing new or modifying existing devices to work on the Clearwire-Sprint network start with questions about how large the potential market will be. That determines the amount they can spend and time frame for development among the many alternative market opportunities they might pursue.

The handset market has always been a factor in network service decisions of consumer and enterprise customers: Availability of the RIM Blackberry line has been a pivotal requirement for many corporate clients. More recently, the Apple iPhone has been pivotal for a gain in subscribers by AT&T despite consumer complaints about network capacity. This has driven operators to work forge agreements to work closely on development and put efforts into marketing in exchange for availability to the hottest devices. The relationships have morphed as the 'device' has become a vehicle for popular applications: a triumvirate of open mobile web OS platform environment, device, and applications store(s) has emerged. The combination puts much more emphasis on user choice and, subsequently more control into the hands of companies that control the applications development environment.