Sprint Nextel's methodical rollout of new cell sites with LTE may not win the deployment race, but each market that gets the upgrade will see competitive speeds and more complete coverage than other carriers may offer, executives said Wednesday.

Clearwire will launch its LTE network early next year with service in high-demand "hot zones" in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and San Francisco, the company said on Thursday as it announced its first-quarter financial results.

Sprint Nextel has terminated its 15-year spectrum-hosting agreement with LightSquared, eliminating the would-be wholesale mobile operator's main carrier partnership even as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission seeks to shut down its network plans.

LightSquared suffered another blow to its hoped-for wholesale 4G mobile business on Wednesday as budget carrier Cricket announced it will use Clearwire to flesh out a planned LTE service.

The new iPad's great contribution to the iOSsphere is how it's already fueling new rumors about the iPhone 5.