Sprint extended its iDEN support agreement with Motorola for an additional three years, taking it up to the point at which the phase-out of the network technology is set to be underway. While Sprint said that “extending this longstanding agreement reflects both companies’ commitment to iDEN technology as a best-in-class platform for push-to-talk (PTT) services,” the company’s medium-term strategy is to re-use the 800MHz spectrum it uses for the former Nextel business in order to extend its CDMA network. The announcement of the deal seems designed, at least in part, to re-assure users of the iDEN network that they are not being sidelined as Sprint executes on its Network Vision infrastructure integration plan. It was also announced that Sprint and Motorola will launch two new iDEN devices in the first quarter of 2011. According to Motorola, iDEN is used by “more than 30 network operators in 24 countries worldwide,” although Nextel (and subsequently Sprint) has always been its flagship partner. In October 2010 it announced an iDEN support contract until 2014 with NII Holdings, a Latin America-focused company which also uses the ‘Nextel’ brand, although this company has also recently acquired 3G spectrum in Brazil and Mexico.

Separately, Sprint named Joseph Euteneuer (pictured) as its next CFO, replacing Bob Brust, who is set to retire. Euteneuer is currently CFO of US fixed-line operator Qwest Communications, and will stay in this role until Qwest’s anticipated merger with CenturyLink is completed. Before joining Qwest, Euteneuer served as EVP and CFO of satellite radio provider XM Satellite Radio, and has also worked with cable company Comcast and its Broadnet Europe subsidiary.