Intel and Motorola try to make a better Wi-Fi

The investment units of Intel and Motorola are putting a total of $900 million into Clearwire, a wireless Internet service provider, in hopes of speeding development of its high-speed wide-range network.

Intel Capital said Wednesday that it would make a $600 million cash investment in Clearwire, which was founded about three years ago by Craig McCaw, a pioneer in the cellular phone industry.

Motorola Ventures would not say how much of its $300 million investment would be in cash. In a related transaction, Motorola said it would buy Clearwire's NextNet Wireless subsidiary for an undisclosed amount.

Analysts said Intel and Motorola wanted to give a lift to WiMax, a standard for mobile wireless that is used by Clearwire and is competing with technology from Qualcomm.