Vinod Devan is a principal at PRTM and Kevin Keegan is a director at PRTM.

FORBES: Computing Electronics: Primed for a Reboot

To stay ahead, Clearwire may forge partnerships with smaller WiMAX providers, says Dan Hays, a partner and head of the telecom practice at global management consulting firm PRTM.

FORBES: Clearwire Looking To Partnerships To Complete 4G Network?

"In the past, Nokia could afford to ignore the U.S. because there was so much growth in markets overseas, " said Daniel Hays, a telecom consultant with the firm PRTM.

WSJ: Nokia Cancels U.S. Launch of X7 Phone

"Verizon appears poised to go aggressively to lock up 4G subscribers, " said Dan Hays, a director for consulting firm PRTM who has worked with major U.S. carriers in the past.

CNN: Verizon launching speedier 4G network Sunday

And industry observers such as Ameet Shah of PRTM, a consultancy, expect consolidation to spread the burden, either through sharing of networks or outright mergers, as Orange and T-Mobile plan in Britain.

ECONOMIST: Saturated mobile networks

"Tablets are an important growth opportunity for wireless operators who are looking for new ways to drive data revenue, " said Dan Hays, a partner with the consulting firm PRTM, adding that Sprint and T-Mobile could be significantly hurt again by being shut out from the market leading device.

WSJ: Apple's New iPad in Production

But now, for the first time ever in the wireless ecosystem, a standard platform is emerging: At least a dozen handset makers have brought to market more than 90 different smartphones that run Android, and more than three quarters of those handsets have Qualcomm chips embedded in them, according to a new study by consultancy PRTM.

FORBES: Did Qualcomm and Google Just Lock Up the Smartphone Market?