What You Need To Know About
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Alltel cell phone service provides regional coverage, and is the 5th largest wireless service provider in the United States.
The company currently has approximately 15 million customers and provides wireless service to 36 states.
The majority of Alltel's customers live in rural areas, and small to midsize cities where competitor's towers are few.
Network and Coverage:
Although the carrier is considered a regional carrier, the company has secured roaming agreements with major carriers such as Cingular, Sprint and T-Mobile to provide coverage for all 50 states.
The carrier also has an exclusive roaming agreement with Verizon Wireless. The agreement allows customers of either company to roam for free on each other's network.
When roaming, Alltel cell phones are programed to seek Verizon's network first. If Verizon does not provide coverage in the area, the phone will then roam to the nearest cell tower signal.
The carrier primarily operates on a CDMA/Analog network, but the company has recently added PCS frequencies in a variety of cities throughout the U.S.
Generally, carriers who offer dual networks provide the best coverage when roaming because both the phones and service operate on two frequencies - Analog and Digital.
The Cons of Alltel Cell Phone Service?
If you happen to roam off the carriers network in an area that Verizon does not cover, be prepared to pay some hefty fees.
You could be charged a $3.00 per day usage fee, and up to $.99 per minute airtime. Long distance charges (up to 50 cents per minute) may also apply if you place any long distance calls while roaming.
And, if you're one of the thousands of rural dwellers who rely on Analog for cell phone service - you may be disappointed.
While Alltel's original Analog (AMPS) network and towers are (for the most part) still in place, the company has acknowledged that they no longer service their AMPS system and its "quality is rapidly approaching an unusable state."
Alltel Cell Phone Plans and Incentives:
Read about the carrier's new incentive, called My Circle.....
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National Freedom Plans - provides the most extensive coverage
of any of the carrier's current plans. With this plan, you’re able to make calls
to major U.S. cities and surrounding metropolitan areas in the Alltel network.
Alltel provides trimode phones for users of this plan.
National Freedom Plans start at $39.99 and include 500 anytime minutes, free nationwide longdistance, and free roaming near major cities.
Incentives include unlimited nights and weekends, and unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling.
- Greater Freedom Plans - provide a local calling plan with an option for
both free long distance and mobile to mobile. However, in order to get these additional
incentives, you must choose a plan costing $39.99 or higher.
Plans start at $29.99 per month and offer 300 anytime minutes. Any additional minutes used will be charged 45 cents per minute.
Alltel's Performance in National Surveys
Recently, two independent consumer groups conducted "wireless satisfaction" surveys to see which carrier's customers were the most satisfied with their wireless service.
Here's the results for Alltel:
- In the Consumer Reports survey, the carrier preformed well in most regions it provided service to.
- Alltel also ranked well in the JD Power
survey - placing second just behind the leader, T-Mobile.
- The FCC also turned in it's annual report card on the company. The government agency found the carrier to have some of the least complaints from its customers.
Alltel Cell Phone Specials:
- The Motorola RAZR V3c (Camera Phone)
- The LG AX5000 (Camera Phone)
- The Nokia 6255i (Video Phone)
Or view all current Alltel cell phones and plans.
Trial Period for your Alltel Cell Phone:
Alltel allows 15 days from the time your phone was shipped to try out your cell phone. Any returns after the 15 days are subject to early termination fees.