Alltel steps down to one-year contracts without changing phone prices
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 4th 2009 10:22AM
posted Jun 4th 2009 10:22AM
Here's a refreshing shocker: the industry-standard two-year contract is effectively going away -- at least temporarily. Starting tomorrow, the 91 markets of Alltel that Verizon is required to divest are now offering one-year contracts for all new and renewing customers, but there's no increase in phone pricing -- you'll pay exactly the same amount at the register as if you were signing a two-year deal. The move almost seems like a little "screw you" to whomever ends up acquiring the markets, since those companies will effectively have to deal with the lost revenue -- but on the record, anyhow, the divested trust's main sales guy says that they're "excited about the possibility of joining AT&T." We're not so sure that AT&T feels the same way, but in the meantime, this is a nice little win for customers.
WHAT!!!!
So glad I can get a Touch Pro for 200 less - and get the pre just 12 months later!
Woot
You ba$t*rd!
Alltel uses CDMA, and AT&T is GSM. If you are migrated to AT&T you will need to buy ANOTHER handset. Makes sense to sell one-year contracts. It's just a shady fire sale, buyer beware.
Not sure this is really a 'screw you' to AT&T. Rather, it will benefit AT&T to NOT have to honor long term rate plans that they don't support, and will make it easier to transition the newly acquired subscribers over to their handsets and plans. I would bet that AT&T had a big say in this.