Verizon gets official with $28 billion Alltel acquisition
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jun 5th 2008 10:52AM
posted Jun 5th 2008 10:52AM
It looks like those talks between Verizon and Alltel were pretty deep after all, as the two companies have just come out and made the acquisition official. According to the official announcement, the aggregate value of the transaction is $28.1 billion, and the two companies are aiming to have it completed by the end of the year -- assuming all the necessary regulatory approvals come through. For its part, Verizon is of course boasting that this is a win for customers all around, saying that the merger will create an "enhanced platform of network coverage, spectrum and customer care to better serve the growing needs of both Alltel and Verizon Wireless customers for reliable basic and advanced broadband wireless services." Alltel President and CEO Scott Ford also echoed that sentiment, although his role with the future company seems to be less than defined at the moment, with the official announcement only going so far as to say that he will continue in his current position as head of Alltel "until the merger is completed."
[Via ArkansasBusiness.com]
[Via ArkansasBusiness.com]
I wish it was Sprint that took over Alltel.... Verizon already has a great coverage area, but they charge for programs that Sprint offers for free (GPS Navigation, TV, Music, etc).
I had hoped maybe greater competition to Verizon would have forced Verizon to change its ways (and maybe not charge $45 extra a month for the unlimited PDA data plan so I could buy myself the HTC Touch!) and become a tad more customer friendly.
Oh well.
Just to put that into perspective, the Blackberry unlimited data plan is only $30 a month (same internet! - go figure)
and at AT&T its $35 for unlimited for both Blackberry and PDAs
and at Sprint its only $20 extra for unlimited internet on ANY phone (and it includes Sprint TV, Navigator, etc) (I got this price by taking the difference between the basic voice/text plan and the basic data plan)
I know Sprint is offering all these freebies because they want to get people onto their network (which lacks coverage), but I don't see why Verizon couldn't stop raping us at the cash register.
At AT&T Unlimitted data for blackberry and PDA is $30 for routed IP and $40 for a direct external IP.
$20 is for handsets but technically, it's the same thing at the $30 plan for PDAs. I'm paying $20 for unlimitted data on my Tilt. My sister pays $30 for her blackberry because her job is paying for it.
@Shortfuse:
The prices I quoted are for the NY-Metro area. Looks like we're getting charged $5 more than from where ever you're from.
there is a cheaper data plan for pda's now, the $44.99 is only if you want to use the wireless sync service.
sorry dude, AT&T's pricing is the same everywhere...$30 for both blackberry and pda plans. if you're getting charged more you need to go to a store or call customer service and get it changed
@ Will:
Look at these two pictures. I took 'em at AT&T's website. Proof that the data plan is $35 haha.
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2cgdms5&s=3
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2v35weu&s=3
@michael S
I entered zip codes 90210 (Beverly hills), 10027 (New york), 10454 (bronx), 60601 (chicago), and 90013 (LA), all prices were 30 for PDA Personal, and Black Berry Personal. So you are either lying, or you are doing something wrong.....
@ zephxiii :
Are you sure? This is where I'm taking my screenshots - hxxp://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/blackberry-personal-plans.jsp and hxxp://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-plans/pda-personal-plans.jsp
Look, I took another screenshot and this time I did it from the 10027 NYC zip code (I live on Long Island, by the way).
NYC (10027): http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=15r1ou8&s=3
Beverly Hills (90210): http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2eeze5k&s=3
Look, they're both $35. I don't want to escalate this... but I think you're the one that's doing something wrong. Can you take pictures to prove the $30 plan?
those prices are for data only...as in not being able to use your phone for actual phone calls. if you have phone service the blackberry and pda plans are both $30
Yea, what Will said, i was looking at rates for the data addons to voice service. Its 30 bux for both. All is well, these things can be confusing.
Verizon vs. Sprint = Service vs. Freebies...it's such a difficult decision. I mean, If Verizon could stop ruining phones with their proprietary software, and take smartphones the way of the iPhone, with free and simple features on a good interface (don't rank me down, I hate Apple and the iPhones just as much as the next person because of all the hype, but the iPhone DOES have an admittedly very good UI) If the Dare had a UI as intuitive as the iPhone and as many simple and free features (mostly the seamless integration of Gmail accounts IMO), then Verizon would draw a huge amount of customers from other providers because of their reliability.
Why on earth would you even think Sprint would aquire Alltel? They are in absolutely no position, financially, to acquire any carrier. They need to fix themselves internally before they look outward.
Did I just hear a collective groan from San Antonio?
I can see those AT&T guys calling up a meeting now to discuss the logistics of buying T-Mo USA from Deutsche Telekom to compete.
I hope that never happens...I absolutely loathe and despise AT&T, even though they give me roaming coverage where I am. They have the worst customer service and are so expensive in comparison to T-Mobile. I will concede that they have better phone selection though...although I do appreciate my UMA-capable Curve.
Im in San Antonio and I, a loyal Verizon customer, am excited about this. AT&T is now second and even though they are based here I cant stand them. I like being on first placed team, lol.
More importantly, I think this could finally open Verizon up to better handsets and possibly lower plan prices. Lets all hope so.
So will this make them No. 1 customer-wise again?
Yup, easily. Hence my AT&T + T-Mo USA idea in the previous post, without it AT&T is going to be a distant second for some time.
Actually I'm going to start the rumor right now. AT&T & Deutsche are in talks to merge their mobile divisions.*
*I am not an employee of either, nor do I have any idea of what I'm talking about.
Why couldn't they buy US Cellular first then moved on to Alltel later on. The big question is how is Verizon going to get those customers to switch over and away from the very popular MyCircle which Verizon doesn't offer and if those customers don't will Verizon keep them or drop them?
I work for an Alltel call center just a few miles away from a Verizon Wireless call center and have already begun looking for a new job.
I'm not too thrilled about this... VZW didn't need this at all, should have focused on getting LTE rolled out as soon as possible instead.
LTE is still a big thing. Both Verizon and Alltel committed to it but with a commercial launch in 2010 or later... I think Verizon wanted to focus on 2008 and it's goals for this year. The best to the biggest.
Alltel doesn't even have service here in S. Florida... YET they still play their stupid commercials saying how they are so much better than everyone else. If they are so much better, why do all 4 major carriers offer service here, but Alltel does not?
i was an alltel customer 3 years ago before i started working for at&t and i can assure that they have service in south florida, they may not have stores there but you would have no problems finding signal. and i can tell you from experience as i traveled through 24 states the last summer i had them, the only place i had trouble getting service was the great state of W Virginia
Haha. We get the Alltel commericals up here in Maryland too and from what I remember, Alltel's reach is up to North Carolina but then jumps to like Maine.
Those alltel commercials you see in Maryland are usually attached to DC-area sports (Terps, etc) because alltel sells service in VA.
This is not unexpected at all. I used to work for Alltel until October, and these talks were going on for almost a whole year before I quit. The funny thing is that Alltel and Verizon Execs hate each other.
This will make them the largest customer wise and geographically.
And whoever said that internet on regular AT&T phones is $20 is wrong. They dropped it to $15 2 months ago at least. PDA and Blackberrys are $30 for internet unless you need exchange support or tethering.
I have had service with Alltel for 13 years and am very satisfied with it.
The My Circle has been a moneysaver for my 5 phones + USB Aircard.
I do hope this plan does not change.
MY CIRCLE is my biggest concern in the Alltel buy out by Verizon. I have been a Alltel customer for about six years. Verizon may add some great technology to the Alltel customers service.But, personally, Having to use a Verizon cell phone for company use. I would prefer Alltel to remain independent.Will just have to wait and see what happens..
NOOOO! Less customer choice!
Isn't Alltell the company with the commercials that make fun of the other carriers for "locking them in"?
So now Verizon is the largest carrier... so now Apple needs to fuck off AT&T and sell a Verizon iPhone :D
All 80 million Verizon subscribers will be waiting, Jobs.
I hate Verizon, I had service with them for about 5 years and moved 1 mile up the street and my signal was awful. It took me almost the whole contract term for them to finally say "we have come to the conclusion that your signal isn't strong enough for us to keep you under contract." I switched to Alltel and have had no problems. Those commercials about the "network" are complete bull. I guess I'll be going back to land line only and saying screw cell service if I have to choose between att and verizon.
This just sucks for Central and South Florida because the three largest metro areas in Florida have both Alltel and Verizon with large subscription base numbers in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. Particularly Tampa because of the decades of monopoly from Verizon(then Peninsular Telephone Company/GTE) and has moved from the leading land line carrier to the fastest growing fiber to the home based services. Check one off in Central Florida for compeition, before sooner than later it will be a big 3 situation with AT&T, Verizon, and Clearwire....
so does this mean that alltel and verizon customers will get free calls to one another?