Clearwire Builds on Wholesale Momentum With Jolt Mobile Agreement
GlobeNewswire 2012-06-05
-- Clearwire's 4G Mobile Broadband Network to Power Jolt Mobile's
Pay-As-You-Go Service
-- Companies Expect to Pursue Agreement to Include LTE Capability In the
Future
BELLEVUE, Wash. and LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq:CLWR), a leading provider of 4G mobile
broadband services in the U.S., and Jolt Mobile Inc., a full service
prepaid wireless solution provider, today announced a wholesale
agreement that will enable Jolt Mobile to offer its customers
high-speed mobile broadband service using Clearwire's 4G network.
"Clearwire's wholesale 4G services can benefit a broad range of
providers including national and regional operators, MVNOs, and
non-traditional entrants, to serve a diverse range of customers and
product options," said Don Stroberg, senior vice president of strategic
partnerships and wholesale at Clearwire. "Clearwire's 4G network is a
great fit for Jolt, enabling them to add 4G mobile data plans to their
prepaid service portfolio. We're thrilled to continue building momentum
as the premier wholesale provider of 4G capacity to carriers in the
U.S."
Jolt Mobile offers no-contract pre-paid and pay-as-you-go wireless
plans that enable its customers -- consisting mainly of ethnic
communities, students and seniors -- to affordably connect with family
and friends nationwide and throughout the world. Under its agreement
with Clearwire, Jolt Mobile customers will have the option to add 4G
mobile broadband service on Clearwire's 4G network to their plans.
"With this agreement, Jolt Mobile customers can have 4G data plans that
give them access to the Internet at home, at work, and on the go," said
Avi Yroshalmaine, president of Jolt Mobile. "By partnering with
Clearwire we aim to give our customers a compelling 4G alternative to
higher-priced carriers."
Clearwire is constructing a next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready
network to address the capacity needs of carriers in urban markets
where demand for mobile broadband is high. As Clearwire's LTE network
comes online, Jolt Mobile and Clearwire expect to pursue an agreement
to offer users even faster speeds on this network.
About Clearwire
Clearwire Corporation (Nasdaq:CLWR), through its operating
subsidiaries, is a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services
offering services in areas of the U.S. where more than 130 million
people live. The company holds the deepest portfolio of wireless
spectrum available for data services in the U.S. Clearwire serves
retail customers through its own CLEAR(R) brand as well as through
wholesale relationships with some of the leading companies in the
retail, technology and telecommunications industries. The company is
constructing a next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready network to address
the capacity needs of the market, and is also working closely with the
Global TDD-LTE Initiative and China Mobile to further the TDD-LTE
ecosystem. Clearwire is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. Additional
information is available at http://www.clearwire.com.
The Clearwire Corporation logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8493
About Jolt Mobile, Inc.
Jolt Mobile, Inc., a subsidiary of NET, Inc., is a pay-as-you-go
service. They make it easier for retailers to activate new SIM cards
and refill them. With Jolt Mobile, Inc. customers enjoy direct
International dialing, making it easier to stay in contact with friends
and family all over the world without having to worry about being
charged outrageous rates. Additional information is available at
http://www.joltmobile.com.
The Jolt Mobile, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13137
Forward-Looking Statements
This release, and other written and oral statements made by Clearwire
from time to time, contain forward-looking statements which are based
on management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a
number of assumptions concerning future events made with information
that is currently available. Forward-looking statements may include,
without limitation, management's expectations regarding future
financial and operating performance and financial condition; proposed
transactions; network development and market launch plans; strategic
plans and objectives; industry conditions; the strength of the balance
sheet; and liquidity and financing needs. The words "will," "would,"
"may," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect,"
"believe," "target," "designed," "plan" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are
not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of
uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of
Clearwire's control, which could cause actual results to differ
materially and adversely from such statements. Some factors that could
cause actual results to differ are:
-- We have a history of operating losses and we expect to continue to
realize significant net losses for the foreseeable future.
-- If our business fails to perform as we expect or if we incur unforeseen
expenses in the near term, we will require additional capital to fund
our current business. Also, we will need substantial additional capital
over the long-term. Such additional capital may not be available on
acceptable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional capital, our
business prospects, financial condition and results of operations will
likely be materially and adversely affected, and we will be forced to
consider all available alternatives.
-- Our current plans and projections are based on a number of assumptions
about our future performance, which may prove to be inaccurate, such as
our ability to substantially expand our wholesale business and implement
various cost savings initiatives.
-- Our business has become increasingly dependent on our wholesale
partners, and Sprint in particular. If we do not receive the amount of
revenues we expect from existing wholesale partners or if we are unable
to enter into new agreements with additional wholesale partners for new
wholesale commitments, our business prospects, results of operations and
financial condition could be adversely affected, or we could be forced
to consider all available alternatives.
-- We regularly evaluate our plans, and we may elect to pursue new or
alternative strategies which we believe would be beneficial to our
business, including among other things, expanding our network coverage
to new markets, augmenting our network coverage in existing markets,
changing our sales and marketing strategy and/or acquiring additional
spectrum. Such modifications to our plans could significantly change our
capital requirements.
-- We plan to deploy LTE on our wireless broadband network, alongside
mobile WiMAX and we will incur significant costs to deploy such
technology. Additionally, LTE technology, or other alternative
technologies that we may consider, may not perform as we expect on our
network and deploying such technologies would result in additional risks
to the company, including uncertainty regarding our ability to
successfully add a new technology to our current network and to operate
dual technology networks without disruptions to customer service, as
well as our ability to generate new wholesale customers for the new
network.
-- We currently depend on our commercial partners to develop and deliver
the equipment for our legacy and mobile WiMAX networks, and will be
dependent on commercial partners to deliver equipment and devices for
our planned LTE network as well.
-- Many of our competitors for our retail business are better established
and have significantly greater resources, and may subsidize their
competitive offerings with other products and services.
-- Our substantial indebtedness and restrictive debt covenants could limit
our financing options and liquidity position and may limit our ability
to grow our business.
-- Sprint owns just less than a majority of our common shares, is our
largest shareholder, and has the contractual ability to obtain enough
shares to hold the majority voting interest in the company, and Sprint
may have, or may develop in the future, interests that may diverge from
other stockholders.
-- Future sales of large blocks of our common stock may adversely impact
our stock price.
For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a
difference, please refer to Clearwire's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the information under the heading "Risk
Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 16, 2012
and subsequent Form 10-Q filings. Clearwire assumes no obligation to
update or supplement such forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Clearwire:
Susan Johnston, 425-216-7913
susan.johnston@clearwire.com
JLM Partners for Clearwire
Mike DiGioia or Jeremy Pemble, 206-381-3600
mike@jlmpartners.com or jeremy@jlmpartners.com
Jolt Mobile
Avi Yroshalmaine
PRESS@JOLTmobile.com
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