July 29, 2010
Best Buy becomes first major wholesaler outside of Clearwire's strategic investors to join Clearwire's 4G "Network of Networks" and offer service under the Best Buy name.
On July 29, it was announced that Clearwire Corporation, a leading provider of wireless broadband services and operator of the fastest 4G network in the country, and Best Buy Connect, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc., announced the formation of a strategic wholesale relationship in which Best Buy will use Clearwire's 4G network to offer mobile internet service to customers under the Best Buy Connect service. Willkie represented Best Buy in the deal. Under the terms of deal, Best Buy will offer, beginning in 2011, a new 4G tier for its recently introduced Best Buy Connect service. The deal makes Best Buy the first major wholesaler outside of Clearwire's strategic investors to Join Clearwire's 4G "Network of Networks" and offer service under the Best Buy name. With approximately 180,000 employees and operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services. Best Buy Connect was conceived to help accelerate mobile broadband adoption by offering consumers the convenience of one-stop shopping for devices, service activation, billing and customer support from Best Buy. The deal was handled by partner Gordon Caplan and Jared Nicholson.