iPCS and Sprint: A Short Lived Detente

Related Links

Sprint affiliate sues to block Clearwire deal
iPCS Reaches Detente with Sprint Nextel
Sweet Victory for iPCS

Summary
Trying to figure out the iPCS - Sprint relationship raises some puzzling questions.

Analysis

It's hard to figure out the exact motivation behind iPCS's recent legal action against Sprint to block Sprint from forming its joint venture with Clearwire et al.  As an affiliate, one would have thought that, in light of having recently come to agreement with Sprint over backoffice and roaming fees and the judgment in iPCS's favor on its exclusivity infringement claims regarding Nextel, that an equilibrium had been reached.

One would have also thought that, as an affiliate, iPCS could have offered or negotiated a WiMAX reselling agreement with Sprint.  Afterall, isn't WiMAX competing with Sprint's own CDMA data network as much as iPCS's?  Or, did Sprint, in seeking a pre-emptive declaratory judgment regarding Clearwire holdings in one of iPCS's largest markets, Grand Rapids, essentially pick the scab of the healing wound to cause the relationship to again bleed?  Finally, if iPCS is making a play to be acquired by Sprint, could they have picked a worse time to try to force Sprint's hand, given the financial, operational and strategic basket case that Sprint has become?