Sprint Calls Up T-Mobile
The Wall Street Journal
WCAI member Sprint Nextel is again discussing options for combining its business with rival T-Mobile USA. A transaction would combine the third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers in the U.S., but the two sides disagree over what T-Mobile USA is worth and a quick deal is unlikely, people familiar with the matter said. Sprint has set conditions for a deal, including that it own more than half of a combined company and decide who would run the expanded business. Directors likely would favor retaining Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse. A combination of Sprint's 49.9 million subscribers with T-Mobile's 33.7 million customers would create a stronger challenger to WCAI member AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which have 95.5 million and 94.1 million subscribers, respectively. More

Sprint's CEO Says Clearwire in 'Every Option' for Future
Bloomberg
Chief Executive Officer Dan Hesse said WCAI member Sprint Nextel remains committed to WCAI member Clearwire and that "every option" for Sprint's future involves the wholesaler and 4G WiMAX technology. Hesse said he'd like to see Sprint do more network sharing with Clearwire, which sells capacity from its own network to Sprint and other carriers. Clearwire is 54% owned by Sprint. More

Nokia Siemens Postpones $1.2 Billion Motorola Deal Again
Bloomberg
Nokia Siemens Networks delayed the closing of its $1.2 billion purchase of assets from WCAI member Motorola Solutions for a second time within three months. The deal won't be completed in the first quarter as the Chinese government hasn't given antitrust approval yet, the company said today. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has extended its review period for another 60 days, said Motorola Solutions. Nokia Siemens spokesman Ben Roome said the company needs antitrust approval in each affected market and that it got all other approvals by the end of 2010. China may be using Motorola as a leverage point in the continuing controversy over the access of Chinese communications equipment suppliers to the U.S., said Daniel Hays, a partner with management consultants PRTM. More

Demand for TD-LTE Terminal Devices Expected to Take Off in 2012, Say Taiwan Makers
DigiTimes
While China Mobile has begun establishment of TD-LTE trial networks in seven cities in China and will offer trial services in the second half of 2011, demand for TD-LTE terminal devices including smart phones and tablet PCs in the China market is expected to emerge in 2012, according to Taiwan-based makers of networking/communication equipment.More

Ericsson Plans to Establish Global LTE Test Center in Taiwan
CENS.com
Ericsson intends to locate its second global LTE interoperability test center in Taiwan, according to Philip Tseng, general manager of Ericsson Taiwan.More

What Does 4G Mean for Tablets?
Tablet PC Review
The Motorola Xoom shipped without 4G, though it will come in the form of a free upgrade, possibly around May. The iPad 2 is coming to Verizon, though not on the carrier's LTE 4G network. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 4G (Verizon) and BlackBerry 4G PlayBook (Sprint WiMAX), were both announced at CES, but there are no solid release dates. That leaves the Dell Streak 7 that shipped in February as the only major device available marketed as a 4G tablet.More