On Wednesday, the company discussed WiMax deployment in a teleconference with reporters, and tried to put a happy face on the long-range wireless technology. WiMax is happening, apparently just not here.

"It's not about the United States,", Intel executive VP Sean Maloney was quoted as saying in . He said that India, Japan, South Korea, and other countries in Europe and Africa are aggressively deploying WiMax. "I'm describing to you a technology that has already taken off," Maloney explained.

With the in Barcelona fast approaching, Intel has plenty of reasons to spin WiMax, and to emphasize its international success. Only two American cities, Baltimore and Portland, Oregon, have citywide WiMax, and the service in both municipalities .

Besides developing WiMax technologies, Intel has also spent a considerable amount of effort developing strategic partnerships to help with WiMax deployments. There have been investments, as well: According to , Intel has plowed US$1.6 billion into WiMax provider .

However, the recession and credit crisis have thrown a wrench into some of these initiatives. Clearwire's CEO Ben Wolff, who admitted that his company is having trouble raising additional funds. "It's clear," the article stated, "that capital markets are closed to either borrowers or companies that are trying to raise capital."