Reports: Sprint, Clearwire could be renewing WiMAX talks

News reports indicate that the two sides may be preparing to sit down at the bargaining table once more to combine their respective WiMAX networks.

Attempts at contacting either company by BetaNews had not been returned as of press time.

Sprint and Clearwire first announced plans to merge their two networks to great fanfare in July of last year. However, Sprint's excitement for WiMAX cooled significantly by early November, and a week later plans were called off.

The nation's third-largest wireless provider has also been weighing its options for a sale of its Xohm business -- which includes its WiMAX network -- to Clearwire. With the company struggling financially, looking for new ways to ensure positive revenue is a must.

Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Sprint has approached both Best Buy and and Google about helping to finance the new effort, as well as chipmaker Intel. With financing at its back, Sprint would be alleviate one of the technology rollouts biggest concerns: its price.

Altogether, the network is expected to cost Sprint as much as $5 billion to launch. Again looking to Clearwire for WiMAX, the revised effort will allow new CEO Daniel Hesse to focus on turning around Sprint's cellular business.