Found this form reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/10/us-sprint-softbank-clearwire-idUSBRE9690Y020130710
Key notes:
1) "Softbank founder Masayoshi Son told Reuters in April that he was preparing a "secret weapon" to revive Sprint - a "very innovative product, innovative service that no other carriers in the world are preparing."
Something related to their new R&D center in California?
From a Nikkei/Nasdaq interview: "The two carriers will open a joint R&D center in California as early as this year. It will "give birth to new technology in Silicon Valley, the center of Internet technology," Mr. Son told the Nikkei."
Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/softbank-set-to-invest-16-billion-at-sprint-20130707-00017#ixzz2YgJaJk3Q
2) "SoftBank executive Ron Fisher, who will become vice chairman of the Sprint board of directors, said the first task was beefing up technology. He added that there will not be any management changes or general layoffs."
3) "Integrating Clearwire's spectrum with Sprint's network, and introducing handsets that can take advantage of that spectrum, could take as long as 18 months, said Fisher. But he noted that putting the process in motion is an immediate priority."
Sounds about right to develop, test and release Tri-band phones. Just in time for my 2/2015 contract renewal.
4) "The area you're likely to see the greatest acceleration is around the 2.5 Gigahertz Clearwire spectrum deployment," Fisher added.
After the Clearwire acquisition, hopefully Sprint will be using bigger pipes (IIRC, there's at least 55 mhz contiguous in the 2.5 Ghz spectrum) in most markets.