Will Google Use Clearwire to Become an MVNO & Promote Android?

One of Clearwire’s top assets is its spectrum holdings.  Forrester Research
analyst Charles Golvin states, "If there’s one thing that Clearwire has in its
favor, it’s a boat load of spectrum."

According to

MarketWatch.com – "Google has been granted a sort of wireless sandbox,
gaining the use of Clearwire’s excess spectrum for unspecified "experimental
tests." Those tests could make an important contribution, as Google sees
wireless technology such as its Android mobile operating system as crucial for
its future growth.  Google also has an option to use the Clearwire spectrum
to become its own "virtual" operator, and gain more direct control over the use
of Android." If that were to happen, Google would have more direct control of
the types of Android based phones and applications that operate on its mobile
broadband wireless network.  The technology for that mobile broadband
network could be mobile WiMAX or something else.

Google has successfully built and operates a Wi-Fi network for the city of
Mountain View in California.  So the company does have some experience as a
wireless network operator.  "Our commercial agreement with Clearwire
includes a number of options which we may or may not pursue, but we have nothing
to announce at this time," Google spokesman Andrew Pederson said.

Forrester Research’s Golvin speculated that Google could test Android’s use in a
wide variety of wireless devices.  "An exploding range of form factors"
above and beyond cell phones or notebook computers will include wireless
capability, Golvin said, adding that, "I expect they’re all interesting in one
way or another to Google."

Google and Intel also have the right to "wholesale" the spectrum to other
operators.  However, no plans to do this have been announced.

Cable companies that invested in Clearwire are planning to use the spectrum for
broadband wireless services.  Comcast announced that it would be reselling
Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX service in Portland, Ore., later this year.  Time
Warner has been conducting mobile voice trials, but would not comment on the
results.  But a Time Warner spokesman told MarketWatch that the company
plans to launch wireless Internet service using the spectrum in an unspecified
city.  One would assume that those two cablecos/MSOs are most interested in
mobile services, in order to offer a quad play.