The long-rumored national mobile WiMAX partnership between Sprint and Clearwire is now official, both companies have announced.

The new company will be called Clearwire, of which Sprint will own 51 percent. Intel, Comcast, Google, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks combined are investing $3.2 billion based on a $20 estimated per-share price when Clearwire opens on the NASDAQ when the deal reaches completion later this year.

Dan Hesse, Sprint’s president and CEO said in a statement: “We’ve made an excellent start developing XOHM WiMAX services. Contributing those advances to a strongly backed new company – in which we’ll hold the largest interest – provides Sprint with additional financial flexibility and allows Sprint management to leverage and focus on our core business.”

“Additionally, the agreements allowing the new company and our cable company investors to bundle and resell Sprint’s 3G wireless services strengthen the distribution of our current services while reducing the complexity and enhancing Sprint’s cable relationships,” he added.

Clearwire CEO Benjamin Wolff also commented: “Given the complexity of this transaction, we have taken the time and effort to do it right, by thoughtfully leveraging the resources and opportunities that we and our investors are bringing to the table.”

Clearwire plans to reach around 130 million people in the United States by the end of 2010. The company will use Sprint’s towers, fiber network and IT support.

Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Clearwire will become wholesale resellers of sprints 3G wireless voice and data services with Google handling the web service side of the business and be the official search partner for Sprints mobile services. Intel will work with component suppliers to embed WiMAX chips in to the Centrino 2-based devices such as laptops and other Internet appliances.

Wolff becomes CEO of the new Clearwire, with Sprint’s Chief Technology Officer Barry West serving as president.