If you recall, five years ago or so, when Intel first began really seriously hyping their investment in WiMax, they called the technology "the most important thing since the Internet itself." Half a decade later, much of WiMax's U.S. success now hinges on the new Clearwire joint venture -- whose network build is reportedly facing delays because of the credit crunch. Intel this week went into damage control mode, telling any reporter who'd listen that WiMax struggles in the United States aren't a big deal -- and that globally, the technology will reach 800 million people by 2010. Next week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, you can expect Intel to unleash an even larger public relations blitzkrieg aimed at shoring up WiMax's sagging image, while keeping AT&T and Verizon at bay.