Can New Clearwire CEO Eric Prusch Ignite Growth?

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Comment by Tech Analyst Jeff Kagan

Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

Atlanta, GA, August 10, 2011 — Clearwire promoted its COO Eric Prusch to President and CEO. While this is a great achievement for Prusch, it is also a big challenge and opportunity for him and for the company.

Everyone is cheering him on. They want Clearwire to succeed. There are quite a few who hope he succeeds when you count the employees, investors, suppliers and partners.

Claerwire had a hot beginning a couple years ago, but things have cooled significantly since. They were the first with a 4G signal and they were winning. That was good news for companies and investors like Sprint Nextel, Comcast, Time Warner and several others.

Since then every wireless carrier has jumped into the 4G race. Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile as well as smaller wireless networks. There are also newcomers, which want to be a player in this space as well, like Lightsquared.

During the last six months suddenly everyone says they are 4G according to their advertising and marketing. Some are further ahead than others, but the 4G race is on.

What that means is Clearwire is no longer the only game in town. Now every carrier is a major competitor, talking up 4G with their customer base.

Clearwire, who started life as a fast growing leader in this space is now just part of the noise. Their growth has slowed and there is really nothing special right now.

The question I ask is, have they crossed over the top of the Wave and are they going down the other side? We won’t know for a while, but unless they ignite their growth engines that is what is ahead for the company.

The Clear logo is everywhere. It is in store windows, in shopping mall booths, online, almost everywhere you look. They have a very unconventional marketing approach compared with the heavy hitters. This worked early on, but is having trouble now.

The last year has put Clearwire through the wringer with financing and expanding. This was a very tough year for the young company.

So as you can see Clearwire has its back up against the wall. The urgency clock is ticking.

So I wish success and congratulations to Eric Prusch. After the short celebration is over its time to get back to work rebuilding the branding excitement the company is sorely missing right now.

Contact:

Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

770 579 5810

jeff@jeffkagan.com

www.jeffkagan.com