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McCaw is up to Something AgainMcCaw is up to Something AgainMcCaw is up to Something Again 12/23/2003 03:27 PM Apparently Craig McCaw has formed a new company, Flux, and has acquired some MMDS spectrum: Little else is known about what plans the company might have. Glenn thinks McCaw could use the spectrum to circumvent Wi-Fi and sell backhaul and business services. I think that any technology deployed over the MMDS spectrum will end up being a residential or a small to medium business offering--something that competes with DSL or offers a similar service where DSL or other broadband options aren't available. Meanwhile, Nextel has snapped up a bunch of MMDS spectrum and McCaw just resigned from Nextel's board. I've heard that Nextel may want to use the spectrum to deploy a mobile WiMAX service which would essentially offer 3G services. We may learn more at the end of January when a Nextel exec will be one of the keynote speakers at the Wireless Communications Association annual meeting. That conference was the place to be when MMDS and LMDS were hot.... This is a GrokNews Entry: (what is grok?)McCaw is up to Something AgainGrok Headline matches for McCaw is up to Something AgainWireless Internet is next for McCawWireless Internet is next for McCaw 06/03/2004 03:16 PM IHT Jun 3 2004 6:06PM GMT Closer Look at McCaw MovesCloser Look at McCaw Moves 04/30/2004 07:18 PM Steve Stroh has taken a close look at Craig McCaw's recent purchases in the broadband wireless space: McCaw bought Clearwire, a Texas company that controlled some ITFS spectrum--ideal spectrum for broadband wireless. But Stroh thinks that one of the most important aspects of what McCaw is doing includes the purchase of gear maker NextNet. NextNet was around during the last big interest in MMDS in the mid-1990s and McCaw has been an investor in the company. NextNet is part of the WiMax Forum and says it intends to build WiMax equipment, but Stroh thinks that McCaw is likely to use NextNet's proprietary gear to get a jump on the market. The first certified WiMax gear from almost every vendor will operate in licensed bands in international markets. One analyst recently told me that WiMax equipment designed to operate in the U.S. probably won't appear until late 2005 or possibly 2006. In the meantime, McCaw can use NextNet's gear and beat potential competitors to the market. Also, with McCaw in control of NextNet, he can make sure that the vendor is making the gear he wants. As Stroh notes: "McCaw learned from Nextel that if your service depends on the whims of your supplier, they can dictate things that can materially affect the service." McCaw could migrate to WiMax in the future in order to take advantage of potentially lower cost equipment. But Stroh notes that in many cases the proprietary gear may be better than the WiMax equipment. "WiMax is a compromise," he notes. Even if the customer equipment from Clearwire is more expensive than that of WiMax gear, McCaw will have a head start, Stroh says. The new Clearwire Web site in part leads Stroh to think that McCaw is close to officially introducing the new business. McCaw may be trying to keep quite about his plans in an effort to try to buy additional ITFS or other spectrum at good prices, Stroh says. Stroh says he dug up some other juicy information that's available to subscribers of his newsletter, Focus on Broadband Wireless Internet Access. [Editor's note: When we point to a paid editorial resource, we like to be clear whether or not we have a financial relationship with that resource. We do not. We merely know that Stroh knows his stuff.]... McCaw Launches ClearwireMcCaw Launches Clearwire 06/02/2004 12:51 AM The Wall Street Journal reports Craig McCaw to launch nationwide wireless Internet service on Wednesday: As Steve Stroh reported a month ago, McCaw's Clearwire will be an alternative to cell-based data networks and fixed-location or even citywide Wi-Fi offer 1.5 to 2 megabits per second. This is clearly downstream speed; upstream isn't noted. Service will launch this summer in two cities and expand to 20 within a year, the report says. The service is described as portable, but not mobile, which is a key distinction: portable means it can be used easily in many places; mobile means it can be used while in motion (walking or driving often having a distinct difference). Cellular services are mobile and portable. Wi-Fi is typically neither except in newer cases of hotzones or citywide Wi-Fi in which its certainly portable, and may also be mobile at the right speeds and in the right locations. According to Stroh's research in April and May, Clearwire will use technology from NextNet, a company acquired by McCaw. The Journal and Stroh both note that this is interim technology that will ultimately transition to WiMax equipment, although Nancy Gohring has reported that U.S.-capable WiMax gear may not be available until as late as 2006.... McCaw takes wing from NextelMcCaw takes wing from Nextel 12/03/2003 01:28 PM Skepticism greets McCaw (TheDeal.com)Skepticism greets McCaw (TheDeal.com) 06/07/2004 05:46 AM TheDeal.com - Despite the telecom pioneers enthusiasm for wireless broadband, is the technology ready for prime time? McCaw fixates on wireless (TheDeal.com)McCaw fixates on wireless (TheDeal.com) 05/05/2004 05:36 AM TheDeal.com - An entity controlled by Nextel's co-founder acquired a 7.8% stake in Canada's Microcell Telecommunications. McCaw Competes for Wireless Broadband
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