Clearwire, Cbeyond Partner on 4G Service for Businesses

Cost-conscious businesses looking to get 4G mobile Internet service have a new option with Clearwire and Cbeyond, which will offer bundled 4G mobile Internet services to small businesses in early 2011.

Clearwire, a provider of wireless broadband services and operator of the largest 4G network in the country, and Cbeyond, a provider of voice, broadband, mobile and IT applications to more than 52,000 small businesses in the United States, announced a wholesale agreement where Cbeyond will offer bundled 4G mobile Internet services to small businesses in early 2011 using Clearwire's 4G mobile broadband network. The partnership is designed to give small businesses the ability to leverage faster Internet speeds in the office or on the go.

The agreement will enable Cbeyond to offer mobile broadband services as part of its existing voice and broadband Internet product suite for small businesses, using Clearwire's 4G network. Cbeyond's integrated suite of IT and communications tools and applications are available in 14 major U.S. cities with solutions serving 5 to 250 employees. Clearwire currently offers its 4G service under its own brand, called Clear, and through the brands of other major wholesalers.

"We are dedicated to providing technology solutions to our small business customers that maximize their productivity and growth," said Jim Geiger, CEO and founder of Cbeyond. "Clearwire's 4G network provides small businesses with a reliable, always-on, high capacity Internet service whether in the office or on the go enabling small businesses to focus on what they do best - run their business."

The 4G customer experience using Clearwire's network would be similar to WiFi, the company stated, but without the short-range limitations. Clearwire's network uses a wireless 4G technology that differs from WiFi because it provides service areas measured in miles, not feet. Cbeyond said its new mobile service would offer average mobile download speeds of 3 to 6 mbps with bursts over 10 mbps, using the Clearwire network. Clearwire's 4G network is currently available in more than a dozen cities, in areas of the United States where approximately 56 million people live, and is expected to expand throughout the country this year, the company noted.

"We welcome Cbeyond as our newest wholesale partner. This new partnership not only expands our wholesale business, but it also extends true broadband mobility with 4G further into the small business market," said Teresa Elder, president of strategic partnerships and wholesale at Clearwire. "Our relationship with Cbeyond is further validation of Clearwire's -network of networks' approach, which allows us, together with our wholesale customers, to extend the unique value of mobile broadband to a more diverse and broader spectrum of consumers."