"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.

AIRCOM International, the network planning and optimisation consultancy, revealed the economic reality of LTE migration facing mobile operators around the world - as much as US$1.78 billion for a tier one US operator in the first year.

As the economic downturn puts pressure on credit markets, and mobile operators attempt to limit significant CAPEX commitments, AIRCOM says they believe that innovative approaches to LTE network roll out, network sharing for example, will be essential in ensuring the profitable delivery of future mobile services.

While the African teleco market may not capture the headlines as much as other parts of the world, that's not to say it's being overlooked by the industry.
So it's good to see the organisers of West & Central Africa's largest telco event announcing record pre-registered attendance for the AfricaCOM event in Abuja, Nigeria.

INTERVIEW: Mobile network operators traditionally seem to have done their utmost to prevent developers from innovating on the mobile web.
But Michael Crossey, chief marketing officer at Aepona, tells smartphone.biz-news that barriers seem to be tumbling - and the mobile industry is steadily moving towards openness.

Operators in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) markets are starting to make progress with acquiring spectrum and finance for WiMAX networks.
At the same time they are beginning to encounter challenges associated with identifying profitable business models and the practicalities of operating a WiMAX network.
So it's a crucial time for the region's operators - which makes attending this year's WiMAX Forum MENA on 23-24 June in Dubai all the more essential.

The first ever commercial WiMAX interoperability and roaming trials are to be carried out by 14 companies involved with the Next Generation wireless technology.
Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum, said the testing of networks and equipment will demonstrate to all WiMAX operators that they can easily provide roaming services to their customers.

INTERVIEW: As mobile operators in Europe rush to comply with legislation to protect consumers from massive roaming and SMS/MMS bills, Amit Daniel, vice president of marketing for Starhome, tells smartphone.biz-news about the challenges - and the advantages - the new rules will bring.

Apple will almost certainly break with its exclusive AT&T agreement and allow other carriers to support the iPhone, according to analysts.
Citigroup's research firm say that while the arrangement with AT&T has benefitted Apple, the company is likely to open its smartphone to more US operators within the next two years.

Bharti Telesoft has been renamed Comviva Technologies Limited as part of a company-wide re-branding initiative.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman and managing director of the Bharti Group, said the name change also signals its intent to be the leading integrated VAS solution provider for mobile operators in emerging markets.

Skype is now available for the iPhone - and will be coming to BlackBerry in May.
The VoIP app on the iPhone will only work over Wi-Fi and not 3G.
It will allow iPhone subscribers to use phone numbers in their existing iPhone address book - without the need for duplicate lists.
UPDATE: Since being released on Tuesday it has emerged that Skype on iPhone does works over 3G, despite being intended only for use with WiFi.

While prospects for the overall mobile handset market remain gloomy, smartphones remain a bright spot with global unit growth as high as 11.1 per cent in 2009, according to iSuppli.
The analysts' optimistic forecast for global smartphone unit shipments translates into 192.3 million units in 2009, up from 173.6 million in 2008.

Games publishers and developers will give up on Java unless operators follow Apple's lead in offering more appealing revenue shares.
That's according to a report by analyst Windsor Holden, of Juniper Research, who warns that as well as being a lost opportunity for developers it would seriously reduce the variety of games for players.

DeFi Mobile is to make its Global Access VoIP service available to  iPhone owners - possibly by the new year.
Users will have access to unlimited global calling, roaming, and long distance for a monthly subscription fee.
While calls will require a WiFi connection, DeFi says it has struck global partnerships that ensure an extensive network of private and commercial connections.

Smartcard vendor, Sagem Orga has formed a partnership with BlueSky Positioning to integrate its A-GPS positioning technology onto conventional SIM cards.
A GPS receiver and proprietary antenna are integrated into the SIM card, which the companies say then enables mobile operators to deploy applications without the need for software or hardware changes.