iPCS cannot restrain Sprint Nextel from merging with Clearwire, an Illinois circuit court said yesterday.

iPCS, operating in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee,  argued that Sprint could not legally merge with Clearwire until a separate dispute about the earlier Sprint-Nextel merger is resolved.  In that dispute, Sprint is accused of illegally selling service in iPCS territory.  iPCS is also concerned that Sprint-Clearwire will sell service in the same areas.

Clearwire must give iPCS 60 days’ notice before launching service in the Sprint affiliate’s service area, the Kansas City Star reported.  A ruling on liability issues is due Friday, the newspaper said.

Separetely, Sprint announced the first batch of certified applications in its Professional Developer Program.

Companies receiving certification are Acuity Mobile, Blue Systems, CellTrak Technologies, ChaCha, Citrix Systems, MobiWatch, Oomble, ROAM Data, SnapNow, Useful Networks, WellDoc Communications and YouCaddy.

Another 52 companies are expected to obtain certification soon, Sprint officials said.