6/9/2009 -- Last month, Cisco Systems Inc. cozied up to service provider giant Clearwire Corp., inking a deal to become the national IP NGN infrastructure provider for Clearwire's WiMAX network. The Cisco/Clearwire accord includes a healthy dose of Cisco hardware, including 7600 Series routers, ONS 15310 devices, ASA Firewall devices and Cisco's SAMI-based Home Agent.

On top of its enterprise hardware offerings, Cisco will produce mobile WiMAX devices for Clearwire's consumer, SOHO and SMB customer commitments.

Experts see the deal as a triumph for Cisco. "Supporting the would-be 4G service provider with routers, firewalls, home agents and optical gear helps to showcase Cisco's capabilities and [demonstrate] how it can support wireless network builds," said Peter Jarich, an analyst with consultancy Current Analysis. "Plans to build Clearwire mobile WiMAX devices help to showcase the company's consumer electronics capabilities -- and its determination...to push them into wireless operators."

But there's a sense, Jarich cautioned, in which Cisco's coup might effectively tie its hands with other WiMAX operators. "Combining device and network assets in a single win announcement suggests a quid pro quo with little planned extension to other mobile WiMAX operators, and a network deal absent ASN or base station assets does little to argue for Cisco's WiMAX-specific expertise," he said.

The Cisco/Clearwire accord burnishes Cisco's bona-fides in the crucial wireless sector. "[Cisco] still needs to assert its wireless credibility on a regular basis. Yes, Cisco can claim a broad set of wireless products. Yes, Cisco can claim a broad set of wireless customers. Broadly, however, the vendor is still not seen as a wireless vendor," Jarich said. "Supporting Clearwire with routing, transport, firewall and home agent support highlights its wireless assets, with plans to build mobile WiMAX devices for Clearwire signaling its commitment to the space." --Stephen Swoyer