Barron's Tech Trader Daily blog followed the rumor back to a post on TheFlyOnTheWall.com blog, which itself attributed the deal talk to an analyst from Bernstein Research. However, when Barron's contacted the firm, an analyst denied ever suggesting such a deal.
While at first glance Clearwire, which is building a national WiMax wireless network to connect phones and PCs to the Internet, seems like a natural fit for Comcast, which is threatened by Verizon Communications' new FiOS high-speed Internet and TV service, in reality there are a few kinks for a deal. The biggest hurdle — perhaps greater than the billions of dollars Clearwire will need to complete its network — is its relationships with Comcast's other major rivals DirecTV Group Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corp., notes Barron's.
Barron's concludes, "Suggesting Comcast is buying Clearwire is simply stupid." — Matthew Wurtzel
See story from Barron's Tech Trader Daily
See Dealscape: Google rushing for Sprint Nextel?
See Dealscape: Clearwire's future is cloudy
