Intel (Nasdaq:INTC) announced today at the CTIA show that it will make a "significant" investment with Clearwire, a wireless broadband startup funded by Craig McCaw.  The partnership is geared towards accelerating the development and deployment of WiMax networks.  The agreement stipulates that both companies will be actively engaged working collaboratively to develop WiMax products and deploy WiMax networks as the technology matures.  The Intel VC arm (Intel Capital) did not disclose any specific financial terms of the deal. 

Clearwire already offers WiMax service in Jacksonville, FL and St. Cloud, MN.  The company is planning to offer services based on the emerging 802.16e IEEE standard (an extension of the original 802.16 WiMax standard that addresses the mobility aspect).  The plan is for NextNet Wireless (a Clearwire subsidiary) to use the newly unveiled Rosedale Intel chip in new WiMax gear.  The deal will be a catalyst for the fixed wireless broadband industry, and Intel believes that next-gen products supporting mobility and using its chips should be widely available by 2006.