Bell Canada, Clearwire team for VoIP

Bell Canada this week announced it will partner with Craig McCaw's broadband wireless venture Clearwire. According to the terms of the partnership, Bell Canada will serve as Clearwire's exclusive strategic partner for delivering voice-over-IP services in the U.S.; in addition, Bell Canada will invest $100 million in the privately held company.

Canada's largest phone company, Bell Canada will also act as Clearwire's preferred provider of VoIP services outside North America. In addition, the carrier will become a shareholder in McCaw's NR Communications, which--along with another Canadian provider, Microcell--is a partner in the Inukshuk Joint Venture, which delivers plug-and-play broadband wireless access across Canada.

McCaw, the founder of McCaw Cellular Communications (later AT&T Wireless), launched Clearwire in mid-2004, first delivering service in Jacksonville, Fla. The company is currently in four U.S. markets, with plans to serve about 20 cities by year's end.

With Bell Canada's investment, Clearwire has now raised $300 million in capital.