So...some of you may have already caught wind of this but this is news for me. It was funny to me because of all the Alltel commercials you see for those who live in the U.S., you know what I'm talking about. You can catch old Alltel commercials on youtube too to see what I'm talking about. FCC approved the merger on the 4th of the month.
http://physicianentrepreneur.com/?p=536
Verizon Wireless to Merge with Alltel
The FCC has approved a merger between Verizon Wireless and Alltel. Here’s what it means to you as a customer:
Other than Sprint, Verizon and Alltel are the two main cellular carriers that use CDMA (spread spectrum) radio technology. Most of the other cellular carriers in the US (and for the rest of the world, for that matter) use GSM technology. This means that if you have a Verizon or Alltel cell phone, it’s useless unless you are in an area covered by a CDMA-technology carrier. To fill in the gaps in your coverage and provide roaming capability to its customers, a carrier can either set up roaming agreements with other compatible carriers, or just buy them. In this case, Verizon wireless went with plan B.
The FCC has granted most of the regulatory approvals requested by Verizon, and it looks like the merger is a done deal. The main issues left seem to be involved with getting Verizon to extend the roaming agreements that Alltel made with other carriers (agreements that will now benefit the customers of other carriers more than they benefit Alltel customers now that they will have access to a combined Verizon/Alltel network).
Verizon customers will have improved coverage in areas where Alltel is licensed, especially in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Alltel customers will have greatly expanded coverage through Verizon’s much-larger network. It remains to be seen whether or not Verizon will extend Alltel’s unique calling plans past the expiration date of customer’s existing service contracts.
