Despite their significant holdings of networking capability, Google won’t try to pump up the Clearwire mobile WiMax project beyond search and advertising.

Google as super-cheap, efficient, dynamic wireless Internet service network provider? Fuggedaboutit wise guy.

Unstrung said Clearwire won’t be able to touch Google’s “dark fiber,” networking capacity the company has yet to light up and use:

“At this time Google’s involvement in Clearwire is limited to the terms of its investment and does not include providing network infrastructure,” says company spokesman Andrew Pederson in an email.

Google will act as the default search engine for devices on the Clearwire network and develop mobile applications around the service as well as investing $500 million in the venture.

Of course, if Google gets its way with the white space hardware it wants the FCC to approve for wireless 700MHz access in the unused parts of that spectrum, they will have another outlet besides Clearwire to reach people toting Android-powered phones in the future.

Posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 11:25 am. Permalink