What Cable, Google Get from Clearwire, Sprint

Google and several cable operators got some goodies in addition to equity in the new Clearwire national WiMAX network. And the advantages do not come from WiMAX, but from the Sprint 3G network.

Briefly, Google apps (YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail) get premiere placement on some Sprint devices, while Google Web, local search and location information become the default options for Sprint data customers.

The cable operators become resellers of Sprint 3G services, including voice. So now the three operators will be able to construct quadruple play services. That is the more important development, as interesting as the Clearwire resale agreement is. In the near term, cable operators need a viable mobile voice option more than they need a future mobile broadband option.

To be sure, Google and the new cable investors will become resellers of the WiMAX network as well.

Google will partner with the new Clearwire in the development of Internet services, advertising services and applications for mobile WiMAX devices. In addition, Google will be the search provider and a preferred provider of other applications for the new Clearwire’s retail product. As an open network, anybody can "partner" with Clearwire to develop applications or supply devices. But Google is a "preferred" and "default" provider, which historically has real value in the mobile arena.

The new Clearwire will support Google’s Android operating system software in its future voice and data devices that it provides to its retail customers.

But Sprint and Google have also entered into an agreement whereby Google will become the default provider of web and local search services, both of which will be enabled with location information, for Sprint, as well.

Sprint will also preload several Google services, including Google Maps for mobile, Gmail and YouTube, on select mobile phones and provide easier access to other Google services.

Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks will be resellers of Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX service. More important, over the near term, all three cable operators now will become wholesale retailers of all Sprint 3G services, including voice services.

Clearwire is getting the attention. But Sprint 3G will be where the action is.