Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget Mobile http://www.engadgetmobile.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Alltel commits to LTE, adds 1M customers in Q1]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/alltel-commits-to-lte-adds-1m-customers-in-q1/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/alltel-commits-to-lte-adds-1m-customers-in-q1/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/15/alltel-commits-to-lte-adds-1m-customers-in-q1/#commentsFiled under: ,

See, it's not all dour news in the wireless industry -- oft-overlooked carrier Alltel just announced that it added over 1M gross wireless customers in the first quarter, and that it's committed to LTE in the next three to five years. The LTE news isn't particularly surprising, since Alltel's got roaming agreements to maintain and both Verizon and AT&T are committed to LTE, but the company did specifically say that it was picking LTE over WiMAX. (Oh, and if you're keeping score, that pretty much puts the final, final nail in the coffin for Qualcomm's UMB -- good thing it's got those LTE-compatible chipsets in the works.) Alltel's actually growing pretty fast -- this is the second quarter in a row it's added over 1M gross customers, probably due to those sparkling call-quality survey results -- but we still have our doubts when the company claims it's "America's Largest Network." Should be interesting to see how this all shakes out as 4G gets built up, no?

Read - Alltel Q1 results [Warning: PDF link]
Read - Alltel commits to LTE
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 15 May 2008 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Rural Cellular sues Alltel for trying to steal customers from sold markets]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/rural-cellular-sues-alltel-for-trying-to-steal-customers-from-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/rural-cellular-sues-alltel-for-trying-to-steal-customers-from-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/12/rural-cellular-sues-alltel-for-trying-to-steal-customers-from-so/#commentsFiled under:

Last year, Rural Cellular bought a handful of Minnesota markets from Alltel. No big deal, right? A little money changes hands, a few subscribers move from one carrier to another. As part of the sale, Alltel agreed to continue to service the customers until they could be fully migrated to Rural's systems -- problem is, they may have "serviced" them a little too hard, if you catch our drift. A lawsuit brought on by Rural claims that, among other things, Alltel hustled the affected customers really hard during the transition period to get them to switch back to Alltel and offered them "slipshod" service on Rural's transitional network to help make that decision a little easier. By the time all was said and done, subscriber churn in the markets was a sky-high 13 percent, certainly suggesting that there was some buffoonery going on. The suit seeks millions in damages on the $48 million deal -- and with Verizon's acquisition of Rural currently going through the regulatory process, it certainly seems like the outcome could have an effect.

[Thanks, Droo]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltellawsuitrccrural cellularRuralCellularunicelMon, 12 May 2008 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8330?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/09/how-would-you-change-rims-blackberry-curve-8330/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/09/how-would-you-change-rims-blackberry-curve-8330/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/09/how-would-you-change-rims-blackberry-curve-8330/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Well, what do you know? This week's How Would You Change question hits home in the Mobile world, so we figured we'd give you all a fair shot at chiming in. For those who've coughed up the requisite coin to procure a BlackBerry Curve 8330 on one of our nation's CDMA carriers, how on Earth is it treating you? Found any annoyances you'd like to see changed? If so, head on over to Engadget Classic and drop your comments there.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8330alltelblackberrycurvecurve 8330Curve8330how would you changeHowWouldYouChangehwycsprintverizonFri, 09 May 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fair Credit Reporting Act cited in Verizon, Alltel suits]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/28/fair-credit-reporting-act-cited-in-verizon-alltel-suits/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/28/fair-credit-reporting-act-cited-in-verizon-alltel-suits/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/28/fair-credit-reporting-act-cited-in-verizon-alltel-suits/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've all had situations where our printed receipts have been just a little too wordy for comfort, disclosing details about our address or credit card (or worse, both) that a nefarious individual would kill to score. The 2003 Fair Credit Reporting Act was supposed to put a serious cork in that business by threatening offenders with a $1,000-per incident fine for willfully printing out secret stuff beyond December 2006; Verizon and Alltel are being accused of ignoring that little clause of the FCRA, though, with class action suits du jour recently filed in Pennsylvania and Georgia respectively. For its part, Alltel says it's in the clear because it hasn't been printing both the credit card number and the expiration date on its receipts, and furthermore, the plaintiffs haven't proven that they've had their identities stolen as a result of its practices. Verizon has responded with a shorter, snippier comment, simply saying that it "did not commit any wrongful act" against the accusers. Seriously though, what's so hard about just not printing that stuff?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelcreditfair credit reporting actFairCreditReportingActfcrareceiptverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwMon, 28 Apr 2008 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel Touch gets firmware update, EV-DO Rev. A included]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/23/alltel-touch-gets-firmware-update-ev-do-rev-a-included/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/23/alltel-touch-gets-firmware-update-ev-do-rev-a-included/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/23/alltel-touch-gets-firmware-update-ev-do-rev-a-included/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Make us proud, Alltel! The number five carrier's really been going all-out as of late, doing an impressive job of keeping its offerings in line with the big boys -- and in some cases, outdoing 'em with hot exclusives like the Glimmer. Once again, they've gotten the jump on their larger, heavier competition by becoming the first carrier to release a firmware upgrade for the Vogue (the Alltel Touch, in this case) that ups the radio to EV-DO Rev. A speeds. Speedy uploads aside, the upgrade includes some Bluetooth fixes and adds the ability to receive video messages. Sprint, Verizon -- your move.

[Via phoneArena]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelev-doevdofirmwarehtcrev arev. aRev.ARevAtouchupdateupgradevogueWed, 23 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel scores the BlackBerry Curve 8330, too]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/alltel-scores-the-blackberry-curve-8330-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/alltel-scores-the-blackberry-curve-8330-too/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/21/alltel-scores-the-blackberry-curve-8330-too/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Not to be outdone by Verizon and Sprint (and pretty much everyone else with a CDMA network), Alltel's gone ahead and tacked the Curve 8330 onto its roadmap as well. Can you get it now? No, not quite, but it'll hit on May 1 in "titanium" for $229.99 after the full host of discounts and rebates has been applied on contract. Yeah, it sucks that you have to wait a few more days to pick it up, but you can feel free to place your pre-order now if you like over on Alltel's site.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8330alltelblackberrybreaking newsBreakingNewscurverimMon, 21 Apr 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[House bill proposes ban on in-flight cellphone use]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/17/house-bill-proposes-in-flight-cellphone-use/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This could -- at least temporarily -- put an end the nightmarish scenario involving you, lack of sleep, and some freakish chatty Cathy plopped next to you by the airline. Lead co-sponsor Rep. Peter DeFazio, hopes the "Hang Up" -- madly clever name here -- bill will stop Airlines from finding yet another avenue to gouge you and maintaining peace and harmony by banning any in-flight calling. Of course, the door will remain wide open for SMS, mail, IM, and other types of electronic conversation, but we're hoping Skype and friends are on the muzzle list, too.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairlinesbillcallingHang UpHangUpin-flightThu, 17 Apr 2008 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel snags lots of gold in recent call quality survey]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/alltel-snags-lots-of-gold-in-recent-call-quality-survey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While Verizon and T-Mobile shared honors in a customer service survey just two months back, it was regional carrier Alltel snagging most of the gold in a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey of wireless call quality. Reportedly, said carrier was able to take the "sole or partial top spot in three of the report's six regions," while Verizon stood on top in two regions, US Cellular in one and T-Mobile (along with Alltel) in another. The data was gathered from 24,570 respondents that were questioned about dropped calls, static / interference, failed connection on the first try, voice distortion, echoes, no immediate voicemail notification, and no immediate text message notification. Interestingly, the study also found that "customers using 3G handsets experienced fewer call quality issues," and while call quality problems reported by folks using CDMA happened around 14 times out of every 100 calls, nearly a quarter of calls from those on the iDEN network were primarily about problems with call quality. Check out the full spill in the read below, we won't tell anyone you're a number lover.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelCall QualityCallQualitycustomer serviceCustomerServicequalitysatisfactionstudysurveyTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola's shockingly lime Q9c in the flesh]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/motorolas-shockingly-lime-q9c-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/motorolas-shockingly-lime-q9c-in-the-flesh/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/04/01/motorolas-shockingly-lime-q9c-in-the-flesh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The great unasked question, "what would a buttoned-up, business smartphone look like in the same color as this pie I'm eating?" has finally been answered, thanks to the good folks at Motorola. This here Q9c is destined for Alltel and US Cellular, and we have to admit, it's actually pretty attractive. Could we actually see ourselves sliding one in our pocket? Eh, that might be going a bit far, but we think they'll manage to push a few of these suckers off shelves.

Gallery: Motorola's shockingly lime Q9c in the flesh

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ctiagreenhands onHandsOnlimelime greenLimeGreenmotomotorolaq9cTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Lime green Motorola Q9c headed to Alltel, US Cellular]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/lime-green-motorola-q9c-headed-to-alltel-us-cellular/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/lime-green-motorola-q9c-headed-to-alltel-us-cellular/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/31/lime-green-motorola-q9c-headed-to-alltel-us-cellular/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Don't you dare say green wasn't already in style, as in all actuality, it's US Cellular and Alltel following the crowd yet again. As the run-up to CTIA 2008 continues, the aforesaid outfits have both announced that a lime green variant of the Motorola Q9c will soon be on their shelves. Aside from that, prospective customers can also snap up the WinMo 6-powered Q9c in licorice, and of course, they'll find a 1.3-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch display and 128MB of onboard memory. As for pricing, you can call Alltel's version your own for $99.99 on contract, and while US Cellular is being mum on the subject, both providers will have 'em available "this summer."

[Via CNET]

Read - Alltel's announcement
Read - US Cellular's announcement
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelctia 2008Ctia2008greenlime greenLimeGreenmotorolaq9cus cellularUsCellularMon, 31 Mar 2008 10:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel's Samsung Muse now available]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/alltels-samsung-muse-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/alltels-samsung-muse-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/20/alltels-samsung-muse-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As the name implies, Samsung's Muse flip is all about the music thanks to 64MB of onboard memory (enough for a meager album of low-grade MP3s, we suppose), a microSD slot, external music controls, and stereo Bluetooth -- and after a January reveal, it's now available to Alltel customers across the land. Besides the comprehensive tuneage support, the Muse features EV-DO, GPS and a 2 megapixel cam, all for a somewhat reasonable $89.99 charge after $50 rebate.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelclamshellflipmusesamsungThu, 20 Mar 2008 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel chimes in on the Glimmer: March 13 for $250]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/12/alltel-chimes-in-on-the-glimmer-march-13-for-250/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/12/alltel-chimes-in-on-the-glimmer-march-13-for-250/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/12/alltel-chimes-in-on-the-glimmer-march-13-for-250/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just a day after LG's admission, Alltel's getting real with its mighty Glimmer touchscreen slider, a phone that combines the Shine series' glamor with the Viewty's touchscreen sensibility. As expected, the phone features a 2 megapixel camera, comprehensive media and gaming capability thanks to 128MB of integrated memory, microSD expansion, 3D graphics acceleration, and an MP3 player. GPS is in the mix too, so all told, we'd say the $249.99 on-contract price after rebates is roughly within the realm of reason. Expect Alltel to accept cash or credit in exchange for goods -- the Glimmer, specifically -- starting tomorrow.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ax830breaking newsBreakingNewsglimmerlgsliderWed, 12 Mar 2008 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel's LG Glimmer is real -- LG says so]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/11/alltels-lg-glimmer-is-real-lg-says-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/11/alltels-lg-glimmer-is-real-lg-says-so/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/11/alltels-lg-glimmer-is-real-lg-says-so/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The rumored LG Glimmer for Alltel has now been confirmed by way of LG itself, and while there's still no sight of the phone on the regional's own site, the AX830 moniker that the beautiful piece bears -- and the fact that Alltel's name is specifically mentioned in LG's press release -- pretty much says it all. The company calls out the Glimmer as basically a Shine with a touchscreen, which seems like a pretty accurate representation and a good 30,000 foot overview of everything LG's been trying to do in the marketplace for the past 18 months or so.

Despite LG's own lack of insight into the phone's launch, we've independently heard through the grapevine that Alltel will be launching the Glimmer in just two days, the 13th. It'll go for $250 on a two-year contract after rebates, and sorry, Alltel employees -- there's going to be a two-week delay before you can buy your own to ensure that there are plenty to go around for customers. What a rip! Follow the break for Alltel's information.

[Via Unwired View, thanks Milo]

Update: It's up on Alltel's site, though not available for purchase. Thanks, trigatch4!

Continue reading Alltel's LG Glimmer is real -- LG says so

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelbreaking newsBreakingNewsglimmerlgsliderTue, 11 Mar 2008 13:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel goes unlimited, could've fooled us]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/alltel-goes-unlimited-couldve-fooled-us/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/alltel-goes-unlimited-couldve-fooled-us/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/10/alltel-goes-unlimited-couldve-fooled-us/#commentsFiled under:

So yes, as we reported, Alltel ended up announcing its foray into the wide world of unlimited calling on Friday with its so-called National Freedom Unlimited plan. As we also reported, Alltel is really trying to downplay the package; it's nowhere to be found on the carrier's home page, and a quick gander at its latest press releases reveals nothing about it. Why the hush-hush? Alltel's insistent that its My Circle packages continue to offer a better value -- in other words, they're offering a totally unlimited plan simply to keep up with the Joneses. You might say that Chad (Alltel's lovable frontman) wants you to have 1, 5, 10, or 20 friends, and not a single buddy more, but if you insist on putting a permanent end to your minute-counting ways, expect to shell out $99.99 monthly for the privilege.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelnational freedom unlimitedNationalFreedomUnlimitedplanunlimitedMon, 10 Mar 2008 00:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel joining the unlimited parade tomorrow?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/06/alltel-joining-the-unlimited-parade-tomorrow/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/06/alltel-joining-the-unlimited-parade-tomorrow/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/03/06/alltel-joining-the-unlimited-parade-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under:

Rumor has it Alltel will be jumping on the bandwagon along with... oh, pretty much everyone else now -- including fellow mega-regional US Cellular -- to offer an all-you-can-eat voice plan starting tomorrow. Interestingly, the internal announcement emphatically reminds salesfolks that My Circle is still the best option for pretty much everyone; they basically stop just short of saying that they're rolling out the plan only to be able to say they have it, just like everyone else. Indeed, with 20 peeps in Alltel's My Circle 20 package, it's hard to justify the need to shell out $100 a month unless you're calling a wide variety of people and calling them all the friggin' time, but hey, Alltel's gotta keep up with the Joneses, right? We'll find out tomorrow if this is legit, but given the way the market has been going, we've no reason to believe it's not. Follow the break for the full announcement.

[Thanks, Miles]

Continue reading Alltel joining the unlimited parade tomorrow?

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelnational freedom unlimitedNationalFreedomUnlimitedplanunlimitedThu, 06 Mar 2008 19:53:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Glimmer in the mix for Alltel?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/lg-glimmer-in-the-mix-for-alltel/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/lg-glimmer-in-the-mix-for-alltel/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/27/lg-glimmer-in-the-mix-for-alltel/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


What do you get when you cross LG's Shine slider and Viewty full touchscreen candybar? If you guessed the "Vine" or the "Shewty," well... no, you'd be wrong. If this ad posted over on Howard Forums turns out to be legit, you'd actually end up with the "Glimmer," a phone that appears destined for Alltel (of all carriers) that combines a 2.8 inch capacitive touch display, numeric slider, 2 megapixel cam with flash, microSD slot, Bluetooth, and EV-DO. It's unknown when the rather attractive metal-clad piece might launch, but the existence of prepared advertising leads us to believe it could be sooner rather than later, putting Alltel in the rare and enviable position of one-upping its larger counterparts with unique hardware. The Venus proves that the touch / slide hybrid concept can work, so don't be shy, Alltel, bring it on.

[Thanks, Bradley]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelglimmerlgrumorsliderWed, 27 Feb 2008 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your text on: Alltel's LG Scoop now available]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/get-your-text-on-alltels-lg-scoop-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/get-your-text-on-alltels-lg-scoop-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/14/get-your-text-on-alltels-lg-scoop-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sprint doesn't get all the buggy, texty fun anymore. Following a preorder announcement last month, the LG Rumor has gone and morphed into the LG Scoop for Alltel in three QWERTY-licious colors: Slate, Turquoise, and Citrus. Unlike the Rumor, the Scoop features Alltel's Celltop app for rocking out with various widgets of information on the phone's home screen; otherwise, you get a 1.3 megapixel camera, microSD expansion, music player, Bluetooth, and that fancy slide-out keyboard for SMSing yourself right into oblivion. Grab it now for a shade under $60 on contract after rebates.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltellgqwertyscooptextThu, 14 Feb 2008 12:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Hack enables gpsOne on CDMA HTC Titan variants]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/01/hack-enables-gpsone-on-htc-titan-xv6800-mogul-and-p4000/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/01/hack-enables-gpsone-on-htc-titan-xv6800-mogul-and-p4000/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/02/01/hack-enables-gpsone-on-htc-titan-xv6800-mogul-and-p4000/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The clever souls at PhoneNews seem to have cobbled together info from dcd's posts at XDA-Developers and other places on how to get gpsOne -- this technology uses both satellite and your provider's network to determine location -- up and running on CDMA HTC Titan sets. Once your handset -- including PPC-6800, XV6800, Mogul, P4000, and likely others -- is tweaked, applications like TomTom, Google Maps, and other GPS tools will be available for your navigational enjoyment. This hack will require that you unlock your handset, update the device's software, and then update the baseband radio firmware to get at the goods. Instructions and all the files you'll need -- software updates are listed for Alltel, Sprint, Verizon, Bell, and Telus -- are available by hitting the read link. Of course, this'll likely blow your warranty away, so fiddlers beware and if you're even a little concerned, it may be patience will pay off as a provider update could bring this in the future.

Update: Fixed credit for the work, thanks everybody for clarifying
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlltelBellgpsHTCHTC 6800Htc6800MogulP4000RomSprintTelusTitanXV6800Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel announces LG Scoop, Samsung Muse, and red BlackBerry Pearl 8130]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/alltel-announces-lg-scoop-samsung-muse-and-red-blackberry-pear/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/alltel-announces-lg-scoop-samsung-muse-and-red-blackberry-pear/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/24/alltel-announces-lg-scoop-samsung-muse-and-red-blackberry-pear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Alltel's emphasizing the cool, fashion-friendly, stylish side of the three phones it's officially announcing today. First up, the LG Scoop is a dead ringer for the Rumor found on Sprint, featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a side-sliding QWERTY keyboard for the text maniacs among us; it'll be available in black, blue, and orange. Next, the Samsung Muse is a midrange flip with a penchant for audio (hence the name), rocking out with a 2 megapixel shooter, stereo Bluetooth, and a dedicated music key. Finally, the BlackBerry 8130 -- already launched in "amethyst" -- gets redone in red. No word on exactly when these puppies will be available, but all three will launch before the first quarter's out, and you can preorder the red 8130 immediately.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8130alltelblackberrylgmusepearlrimsamsungscoopThu, 24 Jan 2008 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel expands My Circle with 5, 20 person offerings]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/13/alltel-expands-my-circle-with-5-20-person-offerings/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/13/alltel-expands-my-circle-with-5-20-person-offerings/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/13/alltel-expands-my-circle-with-5-20-person-offerings/#commentsFiled under:

T-Mobile's myFaves and Alltel's My Circle unlimited calling schemes seem to be doing pretty well for the carriers -- so well, in fact, that Alltel's adding a couple new versions of My Circle to its stable. The current version -- which allows users to select ten unlimited contacts on plans of $59.99 and higher -- remains, while new My Circle 5 and My Circle 20 add-ons can be applied to plans of $49.99 and $99.99 or higher, respectively. Needless to say, My Circle 5 knocks it down to five selections, while My Circle 20 ups it to twenty. The new offerings are available starting today.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelmy circlemy circle 20my circle 5MyCircleMyCircle20MyCircle5planSun, 13 Jan 2008 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel makes Touch official]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/09/alltel-makes-touch-official/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/09/alltel-makes-touch-official/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/09/alltel-makes-touch-official/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As we reported last week, Alltel has now become the second major US carrier to offer the CDMA version of HTC's Touch. Not unlike Sprint's version, the diminutive, finger-friendly Windows Mobile 6 Professional device has been customized for Alltel with a fourth panel on the home screen that essentially acts as a portal into the carrier's content deck (whether that's a feature or a blight, we'll leave to the readers to decide). Alltel's site is still taking preorders at the moment, but expect to be able to find them in store and online either today or tomorrow for $199 on contract after rebates.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelhtctouchtouchflowindows mobilewindows mobile 6WindowsMobileWindowsMobile6wm6Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Alltel's LG Rumor, say hello to the "Scoop"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-alltels-lg-rumor-say-hello-to-the-scoop/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-alltels-lg-rumor-say-hello-to-the-scoop/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-alltels-lg-rumor-say-hello-to-the-scoop/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Seems LG was almost as surprised to see this on the floor as we were, but Alltel's version of the LG Rumor called the Scoop is bound to please a few subscribers looking for an upgrade. We caught sight of both the blue and orange versions and took a pile of pics for your viewing pleasure. No launch or pricing details were available but we're expecting more info soon.

Gallery: Hands-on with Alltel's LG Rumor, say hello to the "Scoop"

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresTue, 08 Jan 2008 06:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with LG's vanilla flip, the AX565]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-lgs-vanilla-flip-the-ax565/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-lgs-vanilla-flip-the-ax565/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/08/hands-on-with-lgs-vanilla-flip-the-ax565/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We took a few minutes out this afternoon to peek at what LG had to offer and bumped into the AX565. Build quality was good, the handset is really light, and the screen bright and easy to read. No word on pricing or launch details at Alltel, but we're pretty sure it will be a pretty inexpensive set.

Gallery: Hands-on with LG's vanilla flip, the AX565

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlltelAX565CESCES 2008Ces2008featuresLGTue, 08 Jan 2008 03:37:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Vu, AX565 quietly break cover at CES]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/lg-vu-ax565-quietly-break-cover-at-ces/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/lg-vu-ax565-quietly-break-cover-at-ces/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/07/lg-vu-ax565-quietly-break-cover-at-ces/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Phone Scoop appears to have caught LG a little unprepared with a pair of handsets that haven't been officially outed, and as far as we can tell, aren't on the docket to be announced this week at CES. First up, the AX565 clamshell is allegedly Alltel-bound (and we'd tend to agree from the silkscreened label on the front and all) and features an unusual square touchpad for external music control, stereo Bluetooth, microSD expansion, and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Now, onto the moneymaker: the mighty Vu, a Prada-esque handset that should usher in AT&T's MediaFLO age when it gets around to launching in the next few months. We'll keep you posted if we get any more intel on either of these suckers.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelattax565cesces 2008Ces2008lgvuMon, 07 Jan 2008 20:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon, Alltel spar over ad claim]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/verizon-alltel-spar-over-ad-claim/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/verizon-alltel-spar-over-ad-claim/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/verizon-alltel-spar-over-ad-claim/#commentsFiled under: ,

Verizon has taken issue with an ad campaign put up by its smaller CDMA rival, Alltel, over a claim that the latter was the only carrier that "gives wireless customers the ability to change their calling plans without having to extend the term of their contracts." Alltel claims that Verizon contacted them some time ago -- all neighborly like, not "we're gonna sue you back to the stone age" like -- and asked them to change the ad to reflect the fact that Verizon was offering the same capability, and that it did in fact make the requested changes; Verizon says that unedited versions of the ad continued to air, though, forcing it to take its grievance into the courtroom. Nothing in the wireless industry generates more soap opera-like drama than when two megacarriers sue each other over deceptive advertising, so we're definitely looking forward to seeing how this all plays out.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwFri, 04 Jan 2008 21:08:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Touch about to hit Alltel? UPDATE: yep!]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/htc-touch-about-to-hit-alltel/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/htc-touch-about-to-hit-alltel/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/01/04/htc-touch-about-to-hit-alltel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now that there's a CDMA version of the HTC Touch available, it stands to reason that pretty much every CDMA carrier under the North American sun would have at least a moderate interest in adding it into their mix; after all, it's attractive, it's functional, it's 3G, and what marketing department wouldn't be happy to hear that they've got an iPhone alternative in the lineup? Indeed, we're hearing from multiple tipsters that Alltel's own version of the Touch is poised to launch as soon as the 10th of this month, slotting in alongside the PPC6800 to shore up the regional's WinMo 6 Professional offerings. We'll follow up on this one as soon as we know more.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Yeah, seeing how Alltel's already taking preorders for the darned thing, we'd say it's pretty much a lock. $499.99 off contract, $199.99 on a two-year plan after rebates. Thanks, everyone!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelhtcrumortouchtouchflovoguewindows mobileWindowsMobileFri, 04 Jan 2008 02:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel offers Voice2TXT voicemail transcription]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/17/alltel-offers-voice2txt-voicemail-transcription/#commentsFiled under: ,

Powered by SpinVox, Alltel has become the first national US carrier to offer a service capable of transcribing voicemails and sending them to subscribers as text messages. Dubbed Voice2TXT, the feature is offered in plans starting at $4.99 a month for 20 conversions all the way up to $19.99 for 100 conversions (what, no unlimited plan?) with texts sent by the system not counting against users' text messaging allowances. Signing up for the service apparently requires that folks reset their voicemail systems and re-record their greeting, and after that, you theoretically never need to listen to a recorded message again. Alltel's targeting the feature at people that frequently find themselves in meetings and can't take a call, but we have to ask: since you don't need to speak when you're listening to your voicemail, isn't staring at your phone and pressing keys every bit as annoying to those around you as holding the phone to your face?
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelspinvoxvoice2txtvoicemailMon, 17 Dec 2007 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 now available]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/14/alltels-blackberry-pearl-8130-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/14/alltels-blackberry-pearl-8130-now-available/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/14/alltels-blackberry-pearl-8130-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A friendly reminder to our friends on Alltel: your very own BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is now available. Announced last month, Alltel's 8130 is pretty much like any other 8130, which is to say it's 3.4 ounces of emailin', SureTypin' happiness in a lovely "amethyst" shade that should be appropriate for both business and personal users. GPS, microSDHC support, a 3.5mm jack, and a 2 megapixel cam headline the feature list -- but then again, you Sprint and Verizon peeps already know all about that, don't you? Track down the 8130 on Alltel now for a shade under $150 after $100 rebate.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8130alltelblackberrypearlrimFri, 14 Dec 2007 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker: people loathe cellphone carriers]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We know, we know, it may be difficult to understand how companies that lock you in the moment you decide on a phone / plan -- only to be about as helpful as a bottomless bucket the moment turmoil arises -- could be hated. Nevertheless, we can't say we're shocked at all to hear that cellphone providers are among the least liked in all of the service industries. In a recent report released by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, it was found that "fewer than half of respondents were completely or very satisfied with their cellphone service," and sadly, that's hardly different than in years past. Among the biggest gripes were high prices and mandatory contract extensions, and while pro-rated ETFs are fine and dandy, there's still a few less notable carriers that haven't swallowed that pill just yet. As for internal rankings, Verizon and Alltel each scored higher than the rest, and Sprint was found bringing up the rear.

[Via Wired]
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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcarriercarrierscomplaintconsumer reportsConsumerReportsgripehatehatedissueproblemreportssprintverizonSat, 08 Dec 2007 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel getting BlackBerry Pearl 8130]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/alltel-getting-blackberry-pearl-8130/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/alltel-getting-blackberry-pearl-8130/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/21/alltel-getting-blackberry-pearl-8130/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It didn't want to get left out of the RAZR 2 craze, and it doesn't intend to get left out here, either. Alltel has announced that it'll be adding RIM's CDMA BlackBerry Pearl -- the 8130 -- to its lineup in time for the holidays. It'll come in an "amethyst" shade and feature the same GPS, EV-DO, 2 megapixel cam, and external microSDHC slot featured on its Sprint and Verizon cousins. No word on an exact release date just yet, but when it is available, it'll run $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Register your interest now over at Alltel's site.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8130alltelblackberrypearlrimWed, 21 Nov 2007 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel shores up parental offerings with "Axcess Family Finder"]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/14/alltel-shores-up-parental-offerings-with-axcess-family-finder/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/14/alltel-shores-up-parental-offerings-with-axcess-family-finder/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/14/alltel-shores-up-parental-offerings-with-axcess-family-finder/#commentsFiled under:

Right on the heels of its Parental Controls announcement, Alltel's tackling another side of the love-hate relationship parents share with their kids' cellphones with "Axcess Family Finder." As the name implies, Family Finder allows the parental units to pop up interactive maps online (either through a PC or their own phone) to determine where their children are and can also be configured to keep track of areas that kids frequent most. The whole setup costs $9.99 per month per child when used with a compatible handset -- and yes, Alltel is very specific about the "per child" part here, so we suspect you can't go strapping a Samsung Wafer to your dog.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelaxcessaxcess family finderAxcessFamilyFinderfamily finderFamilyFinderWed, 14 Nov 2007 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel adding content blocker for parents]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/12/alltel-adding-content-blocker-for-parents/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/12/alltel-adding-content-blocker-for-parents/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/11/12/alltel-adding-content-blocker-for-parents/#commentsFiled under:

Making a child's mobile experience a safe one can arguably be seen as a multi-faceted task: there's tracking, call / do-not-call lists, allowances, monitoring, schedules, and a whole host of other options (when they work, that is) that carriers seem to be rolling out as quickly as they can (and who can blame them, considering most of the features carry monthly fees). Alltel's adding support for another piece of the puzzle -- content filtering -- in early 2008 with its simply and obviously named "Parental Controls" feature. Refreshingly, it'll be available free of charge and offer parents the chance to set filtering preferences and tap into a database of pre-filtered sites. No more gambling from the comfort of your school desk, kiddies!
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelparentalparental controlsParentalControlsMon, 12 Nov 2007 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel is officially off the market: FCC approves $24.7B private equity buyout]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/29/alltel-is-officially-off-the-market-fcc-approves-24-7b-private/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/29/alltel-is-officially-off-the-market-fcc-approves-24-7b-private/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/29/alltel-is-officially-off-the-market-fcc-approves-24-7b-private/#commentsFiled under:


The FCC hath spake: TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners (a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs), the two private equity firms looking to buy out the paradoxically national-regional carrier Alltel, have been given the greenlight. The two firms will pony up $24.7 billion (about $2050 per customers) to take Alltel, flush with cash and new customers, off the public market, with the expectation of closing the deal by November 22nd and paying some $71.50 cash per share to current shareholders. Two words: cha-ching.

[Via MoCoNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbreaking newsBreakingNewsgs capital partnersGsCapitalPartnerstpg capitalTpgCapitalMon, 29 Oct 2007 01:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel posts healthy profits, customer growth numbers]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/22/alltel-posts-healthy-profits-customer-growth-numbers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/22/alltel-posts-healthy-profits-customer-growth-numbers/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/22/alltel-posts-healthy-profits-customer-growth-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Although those Chad-based commercials may be unnerving, something is sure working for Alltel. Reportedly, the carrier added 205,000 subscriptions in the most recent quarter, which is "double the year-ago increase," and it also noted that the rate at which it lost customers fell to just 1.9-percent. Furthermore, the outfit raked in some $283 million in profits -- a fine sum compared to the $187 million garnered this time last year. As for the buyout, it suggested that it was expecting a "favorable FCC vote to come soon," meaning that the "takeover by TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners should be completed by the end of the year."
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelbusinessearningsindustryprofitprofitsMon, 22 Oct 2007 18:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel slides out Motorola MOTOROKR Z6m]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/18/alltel-slides-out-motorola-motorokr-z6m/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/18/alltel-slides-out-motorola-motorokr-z6m/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/18/alltel-slides-out-motorola-motorokr-z6m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's been kicking around for most of this year, so we're glad to see that Alltel finally saw fit to get Motorola's rather attractive Z6m slider out and into customers' hands (a Z6tv it ain't, but you'll save a little coin). Anyway, the slider's a solid choice for mobile music on account of its 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo Bluetooth support, microSD slot, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Alltel's very own Celltop system is naturally supported, as is TeleNav GPS -- and if that's not enough to convince you, maybe the "tattoo" across the keypad and rear will (we have to admit, it really doesn't look that annoying). Get it starting today for $129.99 on contract after rebate.

[Thanks, Dizzy]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelmotorokrmotorolarokrsliderz6z6mThu, 18 Oct 2007 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone report: most owners left Treos, Sidekicks behind]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/15/iphone-report-most-owners-left-treos-sidekicks-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


While we've seen a variety of surveys pitting the iPhone against its most notable rivals, a recent study conducted by the NPD Group breaks down the numbers behind who left what phone (and what carrier) to acquire an iPhone. Not surprisingly, iPhone early adopters were "ten times more likely than other new phone buyers to have previously owned a Treo and three times more likely to have owned a T-Mobile branded phone, such as the popular Sidekick model." When it came to carriers, Alltel and T-Mobile were said to have lost the most customers to AT&T, as consumers who "switched carriers to buy an iPhone were three times more likely to switch from Alltel or T-Mobile than from other carriers." Notably, the lack of "corporate email support" was pinpointed as the main reason that many BlackBerry users didn't make the leap, but it did praise the iPhone for helping to "bridge the gap between consumer-focused feature phones and productivity-focused smartphones."
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleblackberrybusinesscomparisonindustryiphoneresearchsidekicksmartphonestudytreoMon, 15 Oct 2007 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Come and get your love: Alltel's upcoming lineup?]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/come-and-get-your-love-alltels-upcoming-lineup/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/come-and-get-your-love-alltels-upcoming-lineup/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/come-and-get-your-love-alltels-upcoming-lineup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

With major releases like the Motorola RAZR 2 V9m and BlackBerry 8830 in its rear-view mirror, Alltel's been doing a commendable job keeping up with its larger, national rivals -- and if our intel's accurate, we can expect the trend to continue. In the smartphone department, the Palm Treo 755p should be launching pretty shortly (alright, granted, they're a little late on this one) along with the 8130 variant of the so-called Pearl 2 from RIM, a nice stablemate for the more businesslike 8830. One wildcard that we're hearing about here is the UTStarcom 6850 -- it's not clear what this device is, but given the UTStarcom branding on HTC's PPC-6800, it's conceivable to think that this could be some sort of mild refresh. Then again, it could be some totally boring low-end device sourced from a generic ODM, so we'll just have to play the waiting game on that one. From Motorola, look for two: a U5 (likely a new CDMA PEBL, given the "U" prefix on the model number) and the MOTOROKR Z6m. Not bad if it all pans out, eh?

[Thanks, dizzy]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6850755p8130alltelblackberrymotomotorokrmotorolapalmpearlpeblrimrokrtreou5utstarcomz6z6mMon, 08 Oct 2007 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel dives into WiFi, offers up variety of plans]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/alltel-dives-into-wifi-offers-up-variety-of-plans/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/alltel-dives-into-wifi-offers-up-variety-of-plans/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/10/08/alltel-dives-into-wifi-offers-up-variety-of-plans/#commentsFiled under: ,

Based on a new section of Alltel's website, it seems pretty safe to say that the carrier is jumping head first into the WiFi arena. Apparently, Alltel customers can now sign up for a variety of WiFi plans that will enable them to surf the internet via their 802.11b/g-equipped laptop whenever they're near one of the "thousands of convenient hotspot locations." Among those spots are Barnes & Noble, Avis, Embassy Suites, Hilton Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels, Marriot Hotels, Tully's Coffee and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. As for rate plans, you can snag unlimited access to the "North and South American WiFi network" for $21.99 per month so long as you have any voice or data plan already, while the Premium WiFi plan requires that you're already paying for an Alltel Wireless Internet plan. Of course, there's also the Pay As You Go approach, and while it's yet to be confirmed, we're hearing that the company could be in talks with Boingo Wireless.

[Via GigaOM]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel releases Motorola RAZR 2 V9m]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/13/alltel-releases-motorola-razr-2-v9m/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/13/alltel-releases-motorola-razr-2-v9m/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/13/alltel-releases-motorola-razr-2-v9m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Alltel has followed up three of its four national competitors today in releasing a variant of Motorola's RAZR 2, the V9m. As you might expect, Alltel's version has some carrier-specific customization -- Celltop, XM Radio, and TeleNav GPS are all on board, features well suited for the V9m's EV-DO radio -- and it seems to be sporting the most conservative color scheme we've seen to date for a RAZR 2 launched in the States (could be good or bad depending on your taste and your line of work, we suppose). Otherwise, the V9m comes with stereo Bluetooth support, microSD expansion, and that huge external display that we've fallen in love with. Grab it today for $299.99 on contract after rebate.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alltelbreaking newsBreakingNewsmotomotorolarazr 2Razr2v9mThu, 13 Sep 2007 10:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Alltel antes up BlackBerry 8830 World Edition]]>http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/09/alltel-antes-up-blackberry-8830-world-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/09/alltel-antes-up-blackberry-8830-world-edition/http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/09/alltel-antes-up-blackberry-8830-world-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


They're a little late to the party, but it looks like Alltel has started slipping its own variant of RIM's BlackBerry 8830 World Edition into retail channels in the past few days. Thanks to a 900 / 1800MHz GSM radio packed in there beside the standard CDMA / EV-DO fare, the 8830 gives subscribers to CDMA carriers like Alltel a somewhat painless route to international roaming without juggling multiple handsets. The cameraless posterior means that the 8830's pretty much all business -- but with GPS in the mix, it's a darned good business to be in, we reckon. Check it for $250 on contract after rebates.

[Via PhoneMag]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8830alltelblackberryrimworld editionWorldEditionSun, 09 Sep 2007 11:52:00 EST