Sprint Nextel and Clearwire dissolve Wimax partnership

The partnership that was to make for better coverage, lower investment costs, and faster implementation of coast to coast Wimax has ended.

Sprint, which has been criticized by investors for its commitment to spend $5 billion by the end of 2010 on building a WiMax network, said it could not resolve “complexities” associated with the Clearwire partnership and failed to agree on the terms of the transaction.

Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal noted on Thursday that the departure last month of Sprint CEO Gary Forsee made it too difficult to reach a final agreement. (from Cnet)

This makes a national third pipe in the air less much likely for the near future. How much longer will the fixed broadband duopoly and the wireless cartel have a strangle hold on American consumers?