Alltel subject of possible bidding war
Wouldn't it be great if Verizon Wireless or Sprint had features like Inner Circle? Don't get your hopes up just yet as neither are going to start marketing Alltel's ingenious plan, however some insiders (not this one either) think that Alltel might be the subject of a possible bidding war between the second and third largest carriers. If this were to happen and Verizon were to come out on top of everything, that would make them the largest CDMA carrier with close to 70 million customers. Just imagine, all those customers and they still can't manage to get the dead zone around our office cleared up
Filed under: Alltel, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, CDMA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
snow7791 @ Jan 5th 2007 1:35PM
I hope that this doesnt happen. i was with verizon one. Terrible experience. Being over charged. Not having the option of getting my pics etc off my phone without having to pay.when my buddie at the time had the exact phone with alltel and he got to do it for free. i for one do not like alot of my features disabled cuz if i did i would go with verizon. That rarely happens with alltel phones I go up to the u.p. of michigan alot and when i had verizon i would barley get 1 to 2 bars. That never happens with my alltel phone. I know that each carrier has a postive and negative features. In my area alltel is the way to go. Just my opinion. Ill stay with alltel and if the merge happens i wont stay with the evil empire. Ill go gsm.
Jr. @ Jan 5th 2007 1:54PM
If Sprint comes out on top, I'd be all for them picking up Alltel. As for Verizon getting 'em...nope, don't want to see that happen.
snow7791 @ Jan 5th 2007 2:16PM
i agree. id rather have sprint pick it up then verizon. But with all the trouble with the whole nextel situation and with them being is such a large debt, id doubt that it will happen. But this talk about alltel.being aquired by verizon has has been going on for a few years now. alltel has been picking up small carriers at least one a year now. midwest, western wireless etc...
VZWTech @ Jan 5th 2007 2:46PM
This has been a topic of conversation for some time now. VZW has been in talks with Alltel for things such as roaming agreements, etc. Ideally VZW could pick up Alltel and not have to worry about messy technology conversions (like Sprint-Nextel), available capital (again, Sprint-Nextel), and a lot of the re-branding problems that have been prevalent (i.e. Cingular->AT&T). Oh yeah, and for all you Alltel people that are bashing VZW, remember: if the buyout does go through current Alltel customers gain access to all VZW service area and their current service area. Use some common sense here people
snow7791 @ Jan 5th 2007 3:05PM
well i personally like sevices that are useful to me. I dont wanna pay 15 a month for watching 1 min clips of videos etc. when i can put o amovie on my non-disabled phone. PAy for sevices such as get it now. O yea, ill pay for getting stuff off of my phone like pics when i can do it for free now...mmmmm
eric Hattey @ Jan 5th 2007 3:54PM
You dont want to pay 15 dollars a month for VCast, so you would rather pay 25 dollars a month for the sprint Power Vision equivalent? GENIUS!
VCast is more than just 1 minute clips, it is also unlimited mobile web, preventing you from being charged airtime minutes for VZNavigator, Chaperone, or any of the other data pulling services.
Verizon and Alltel are already quite close, as they already share roaming on each other's towers. This deal would make alot more sense, i agree that sprint is already over their heads with the Nextel acquisition.
Trevor @ Jan 5th 2007 4:00PM
Personally I dont want to see either carrier pick Alltel up. Sprint although would be better then Verizon but they are in so much debt. Verizon disables their phones, has the stupid interface and makes you pay for anything you do on your phone, which I think is non-sense.
Alltel is to big now and i dont think they would let Verizon buy them out because they are doing very well.
snow7791 @ Jan 5th 2007 4:03PM
well i have to admit, maybe i was a bit judgemental. I dont have sprint anyways. I should think outside the box. Its just that me and everyone i know has had problems with verizon but im sure that there are positive aspects of it. I just dont agree with the disabling of certain things with the same model of phone that are not disabled with other carriers. I figure its mine phone i should be able to do with it whatever i want.but i know sometimes that doesnt happen though.
Rico @ Jan 5th 2007 5:08PM
"6. You dont want to pay 15 dollars a month for VCast, so you would rather pay 25 dollars a month for the sprint Power Vision equivalent? GENIUS!
VCast is more than just 1 minute clips, it is also unlimited mobile web, preventing you from being charged airtime minutes for VZNavigator, Chaperone, or any of the other data pulling services.
Verizon and Alltel are already quite close, as they already share roaming on each other's towers. This deal would make alot more sense, i agree that sprint is already over their heads with the Nextel acquisition."
Wow, you must be insane. First off, Sprint already has both voice and data roaming partnerships with Alltel. Second, Sprint Power Vision plans start at $15 for unlimited data access, and Sprint users can download any user created content onto their phones including wallpapers, ringtones, and applications with no issues on all their phones. No proprietary UI on every phone. Also our Smartphones/PDAs don't have to have super expensive data plans, if the user wants they can have the usual $15 power vision plan on their PPC 6700 or Treo.
Matt W. @ Jan 5th 2007 5:10PM
The sky won't fall if Verizon bought Alltel, despite the naysayers. First off, most of you naysayers seem to forget that all the spectrum and towers that Alltel already owns will become part of the Verizon network, so whatever problems you had with VZW probably won't happen in the enlarged company. As for the complaints about Vcast and other silly VZW services, you can simply opt not to use them, as I have done. Finally, if you want to access your pics from your camera, you have two options: USB cable or microSD cards. I've never paid VZW a sent for ringtones and pictures because I have both a microSD card for pics and a USB cable for uploading ringtones.
elgee02 @ Jan 5th 2007 5:17PM
The UI's on Verizon are becoming A LOT better lately, and they aren't as restrictive. Most of their phones allow OBEX transers, and there are ways to import your own ringtones. The UI's are also no the same old ugly red bars anymore, most give you the option to completely change the UI layout to something much more eye pleasing.
Chris in NY @ Jan 5th 2007 5:27PM
My 2 cents. Sprint has a depressed stock, which WILL go lower; its P/E is close to 50. Value Alltel on the same P/E and its worth almost as much as Sprint (46 billion for Alltel VS 53 billion for Sprint). Sprint/Nextel will have some major restructuring in the coming year. Expect the top management to be shaken up. Its going the way of ATTWS was a few years ago. Aside from incompetent management, it has not been able to integrate Nextel as of yet, it surely is not going to attempt a 2nd integration. VZW....sure it’s a no brainier on the surface....spectrum, same technology platform, easing of roaming charges on the back end.....but...we seem to forget the FCC. Will they approve it? If I had to place a bet, I would say the odds are 50/50 between VZW and a Private Equity buy out of Alltel, with VZW having to divest of some of Alltel for a sale to go through.
SteveO @ Jan 5th 2007 5:47PM
Hey VZWTech
Some mergers of that size require divestiture, so you are potentially misleading by saying that Verizon would keep all of Alltel's service area.
See Cingular buyout of AT&T Wireless for proof ;)
None12 @ Jan 5th 2007 6:03PM
Hey SteveO,
The VZW was not saying that they would keep everyone all he was staying is that in some area's where vzw coverage is weak or none at all if Alltel has coverage there it will improve the VZW coverage for that market. Yes VZW or Alltel would have to sell off some of stuff just like you said look at At&t they had to do it and so did Alltel when they bought Western Wireless. If Sprint had less issues with Nextel I would say they would be a shoe in to buy Alltell just becausee it would put them right up there with VZW and ATT. But since people have been talking about this for years now I will just have to wait and see.
flamer\\\'s grill @ Jan 5th 2007 6:25PM
Sprint and Alltel just entered a 10-year roaming agreement this past july that includes voice, 1xRTT data and EV-DO data. Basically giving Sprint a greatly expanded voice/1xdata coverage in exchange for letting alltel subscribers use Sprint's extensive EV-DO network.
So essentially, if you are an Alltel customer you can reap all the benefits of Sprint's network and vice versa. If one bought the other, how much would change from as it is now? Not much. Regulatory issues aside, it makes sense for Sprint to buy Alltel, iff Alltel is offering. Too bad Sprint had to go and buy Nextel - this was the merger that SHOULD have happened. It just makes way more sense.
Ry @ Jan 6th 2007 4:07PM
I'd rather see Alltel merge with U.S. Cellular, then further expand becoming a real nationwide player.
theo young @ Jan 6th 2007 5:16PM
sprint will announce its purchase of alltel this week at the consumer electronics show. look for a story in the journal sunday.
elgee02 @ Jan 6th 2007 5:38PM
If that's true (which I highly doubt) then Sprint is gonna shoot themselves in the foot becuase they still are getting their crap together after the messy Nextel merger.
Jdmountford @ Jan 8th 2007 7:36PM
Look Altell merger or buy out talks have been around for years. I work in WIreless. I used to work in Kansas where most of it was Altell and only some Eastern cities Verizon. I can tell you that many many people on both side in that state would love to see a merge. Every carrier has it's bad and good. People bash for all kinds of reasons. I do not like some of the Verizon policies, but it is by for a better carreir than about anyother out there.
That being said who really cares!?!?!
It will either happen or not. THe only carrier out there that really has the money and the means to make something happen is Verizon. They will also do better at taking care of the Altell customers than any other carrier out there, just based on track record.
At the same time I do not see a merge happening. If it does there will be divestitures based on the areas where the merged company would form a monopoly.
WE will see what happens.
Tammy @ Jan 8th 2007 11:52PM
In response to snow7791's comment verizonwireless is the number one carrier out there. It is sad to hear that you werent given the option to send your pix to a FREE website called pixplace and then send them back to your phone if you would like.As well another option is to buy a memory card to store all your pix on to actually print them out.I will admitt that in Michigan Verizons service isnt as comparable it is actually in an extended analog area. Something you should always ask when going to a provider what the coverage is in an area that you may spend a lot of time in. That is really just common sense.
In regards to being charged extra for things VZW includes long distance and roaming on all plans which sprint does not and also voicemail and caller id are free and you do pay for that with altell. I am with verizon best service ive ever had and ive had both altell,sprint, and nextell!
brad @ Jan 10th 2007 5:04PM
i hope verizon gets it...many people bash them, but when i can make a call anytime the first time from anylocation...im a happy customer
snow7791 @ Jan 10th 2007 5:25PM
well tammy thanks for the info. But my rate plan that i get for alltel, verizon cant even come close. I get 1000 daytime unlimited nights weekends mobile to mobile (caller id and voice mail are free by the way) all for the low mothly price of 31.99 a month. When i had verizon i think the cheapest plan was 49.99. in the u.p. of michigan where making a call can very important since it is sparcely populated, hilly, and towers are about 20 miles apart i go with alltel all the way. Take example of when i had a flat. At the time i had a verizon phone and couldnt get through. Funny thing a month later when i had alltel in the exact same spot with my alltel phone, i had 3 bars and got through with no prob. And both phones where a motorola so saying that it was the phone inst the option there. Any one can get a call though most of the time in the cities with any carrier but when it comes down to it when you are out in the middle of b.f.e id rather have a carrier that i can depend on.
rightfieldarm @ Jan 16th 2007 9:32AM
I think we're forgetting the fundamental use of the cellphone. Despite the fact that verizon does disable most of the consumer oriented abilities (pic transfers, bluetooth data transfer, etc), the fact remains that their coverage is impeccable. This conversation shouldn't revolve around Vcast and mobile web capabilities, VZW buying out Alltel is strictly a power move in building the strongest/largest CDMA network. Unfortunately for us (the consumer) we're caught in a sitation where it's buying a mercedes vs. a ford. VZW is not the cheapest carrier around, and nor will they ever be. The fact remains that coverage is king, and I would prefer a mobile phone that retains coverage as opposed to a phone unlocked that would allow me to transfer pictures seemlessly.
v @ Feb 15th 2007 1:26PM
Anyone know if Alltel will be coming out with a feature like Verizon's "Chaperone"? I love my Alltel, but contract is almost up, I realy could use the Chaperone feature and am thinking of switching. Any suggestions or advise?
Mario Mejia @ Feb 15th 2007 7:16PM
I dunno,
im my area coverage is not really that much of an issue with my Sprint phone (PPC 6700). However I do use the internet a lot and like to transfer files to and fro my phone A LOT! I would hate to pay $$$ more so that I could get just one more bar on my phone.
Mario Mejia @ Feb 15th 2007 9:21PM
so the whole VZW has better coverage argument doesnt exactly win me over.
Hairy Herry @ Mar 2nd 2007 11:30PM
I want Sprint, NOT VERIZON to get Alltel. Think of it. VZW doesn't allow for >2Gb data. Alltel apparently has no limit on their data plan. Sprint works very well in this part of the Arkansas Nuclear Valley. Alltel website is badly lacking, and I've whined and moaned to them incessantly, even threatening to visit corporate in my native Little Rock and whine even louder. Closed-circuit to SteveO : If you're the one in Music City, I hope to catch you on IRC.
elleyean @ Jun 22nd 2007 9:35AM
Im scared that if verizon takes over that the my circle and other really good alltel plans will be non existant-- the rates will go up, that not good for me.
thats why maybe sprint would be a better option--well exept for there crappy costumer service!!!
you know what rather alltel stay all by itself!!!