Clearwire's losses nearly double, but do the numbers matter?

Clearwire posted a first quarter loss that was nearly double its year-ago loss because of increasing network buildout costs. The $176.4 million loss is close to twice last year's $92.6 million figure. Clearwire's total revenue rose 76 percent to $51.5 million, up from $29.3 million last year. But does it all mean much given the $3.2 billion cash infusion the company is getting from its new cable partners, Intel and Google along with the Sprint Nextel assets? It will be a totally different company by the end of the year.

Clearwire also announced plans to launch mobile WiMAX in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Grand Rapids, Mich., where it has a deal with the government, after it launches in Portland, Ore.,  during the second quarter of this year. It will do so prior to its merger with Sprint.

For more about Clearwire's first-quarter results:
- read this Clearwire's Q1 press release
- check out this Unstrung article