NEW YORK — The struggling wireless carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. said Friday that it will need to raise more money to build a higher-speed data network even as it must spend more to subsidize sales of the new iPhone to its customers.

Sprint’s stock fell 20 percent. Shares of Clearwire Corp. fell 32 percent after Sprint disclosed details of its new network, known as 4G, for fourth-generation.

Sprint said it will stop selling phones and other devices compatible with Clearwire’s current network at the end of next year, after it switches on its own 4G network. Sprint is Clearwire’s largest customer and majority owner, but doesn’t control it. Phones labeled “Sprint 4G” use Clearwire’s network today.

Sprint’s stock rose as much as 13 percent on that news, but reversed those gains after Sprint disclosed the need to raise more money for the new network and failed to offer earnings guidance that incorporates the effect of the iPhone.

In New York on Friday, CEO Dan Hesse said that the iPhone would over time “be one of our most profitable devices” but did not elaborate.

Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint started taking pre-orders for the iPhone 4S on Friday and hopes that the phone will help Sprint compete with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. The two larger carriers had been able to lure people with the iPhone, which Sprint didn’t have until now.

But Sprint will pay Apple Inc. dearly for the privilege of selling the phone. An iPhone that Sprint sells for $200 with a two-year contract costs $600 or so wholesale from Apple. Like other carriers, Sprint has to count on making up the difference over time through service fees. Analysts were looking for some clarity on Sprint’s math here, and were frustrated.

After rising as high as $3.39, Sprint’s stock fell 60 cents to close at $2.41. Clearwire’s stock fell 66 cents to $1.39. Earlier Friday, the shares revisited an all-time low of $1.32 hit in August.

Analysts were perplexed that Sprint isn’t including Clearwire in its network revamp project. Sprint’s president of network operations, Steve Elfman, said the company will inaugurate its own 4G network next summer.

Sprint is using a 4G technology called LTE, for Long-Term Evolution, as do rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Clearwire, on the other hand, uses WiMax, an earlier technology. That means today’s “Sprint 4G” devices will need to be replaced to use the new LTE network.

Clearwire, based in Kirkland, Wash., has said that it plans to build an LTE network in parallel with WiMax, and Sprint’s Hesse left the door open to having Sprint buy access to that network after 2012. However, Clearwire’s finances are weak, more funding to build out LTE.

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