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Google has announced its upcoming plans to partner with Sprint Nextel for a WiMax offering that could largely affect the top mobile network carriers.
With the partnership, Google would provide web-search and mobile applications (i.e. GMail) to Sprint Nextel's WiMax service. WiMix is a high-speed, wireless Internet access technology that may become a more viable alternative to wi-fi for the creation of an open network, covering greater distances than wi-fi. Sprint Nextel has invested a large amount of money into the technology (several billions of dollars) and Google has reportedly invested in the WiMax technology as well.
With the two companies working so closely on this deal, it affects the mobile industry at large. Sprint Nextel will have the upper hand in terms of mobile browsing technology, and Google could have a leverage point for its dealings with other mobile networks, such as AT&T. This would also spur other mobile networks to better consider the development of open network provisions as well. Sprint Nextel has been making several changes to its mobile suite of offerings, as have all the mobile networks, partially in response to the reaction of AT&T's exclusive distribution of the iPhone, granting options for access to social networks.