Just a quick bit of math and you can see that today's news doesn't bode well for AT&T, which has been enjoying its position at the top of the heap in major US cellphone carriers for quite some time now. While AT&T has a solid 71m subscribers under their belt, number two Verizon has 67m and number five Alltel has 13m -- which means this merger could potentially put 80m customers under the same roof. Clearly being able to claim the "most reliable" AND most widely used network in the US makes it a tantalizing deal for VZW, but the ~$2,100 they'll be paying per subscriber isn't lightyears away from the notoriously overinflated amount Sprint paid in their heyday for Nextel. That merger cost $36 billion, which turned out to be ~$2,350 per sub at around 15 million Nextel customers -- and we all know
how well that deal turned out for Sprint. But we're sure they're thinking this will go more along the lines of
AT&T's merger with Cingular, which worked out pretty damned well so far. So what's this thing named, anyway? Verizon Alltel? Veritel? Allizon? We think just Verizon, thanks.
posted June 5th 2008 11:58AM
Verizon just wants to unleash their horrible phone UI on an additional 13 million people forcing them to pay $$ for features that should be on their phone for free. I'm surprised they haven't yet implemented charging a dime every time you plug in your charger. They could call it their all new "charge for a charge" plan. If you pay $15 a month on top of your current plan you get unlimited charging.
Fuck you Verizon. Their prices suck, and they won't get better if they have a strong monopoly over CDMA users. US Cellular and Sprint will be screwed.
What exactly are people paying extra for on verizon phones that 'should' have the feature for free?
I'm in complete agreement with your sentiment here... I have been a loyal Alltel customer for a few years (I've got 5 lines total) and I'm terrified of what Verizon would do to customers like me if/when they bought Alltel.
Right now I'm paying ~$160/month (with taxes and fees) for 1400 National minutes with 5 lines. This also includes text messaging for two lines... Even without My Circle, NOBODY can match that deal. Add in the thousands of minutes we use with My Circle and well...
This makes me scared. My cell phone bill might get close to double the cost if this deal goes through... NOT a good thing at all!
T-Mobile Family Plus with 2000 minutes and unlimited m2m is $99.99 with 2 lines. T-Mobile faves for Family 1000 is $79.99 for 2 lines and incorporates a similar feature to mycircle. Each additional line is $9.99 I have a feeling you can get service from T-Mobile for the around the same price.
Second Verizon does screw their phones with a crippled OS with crippled Bluetooth.
@ CUBSWILLWIN
how dare you even hint of such an apacolyptic event as Verizon taking over telecomunications
i dont know about google, but as long as there is the american government, the fcc will never crumble
the real problem with this deal is that more costomers= worse service than whats already horrificly bad anyways
im switching to att
Now I am part of the best network in America and the most popular in America. I have some friends with Alltel now I can talk to them forever. Also, Alltel has the LG GLIMMER! Which I will be able to get once the merge becomes official.
@ Charlie, actually
1400 minutes for 5 lines with at&t=$119.96
Unlimited Messaging for all 5 lines=$29.99
That brings the total to 149.95 before taxes, about $170-$180 after.
BUT:
That gives you Mesaging on all phones not just two
AND:
Gives you Rollover, so you can keep your minutes
...still like Alltel's pricing??
I used to work for Alltel. Just sayin'.
I cannot believe these telcos are able to go and create a monopoly again. Judge Green, where are you?
Around here (Central PA-Mechanicsburg to be exact) it seems that everyone and their dog has Verizon because the network has great coverage. I have AT&T and love it because I like being able to choose phones that aren't gimped just to let the carrier make even more money. I like being able to choose different phones that each have a unique and different UI than the next, and it's less expensive, esp. when you add a data plan
I would switch to Alltel if they had it in my area though, but if they basically turn into Verizon, then no thanks.
A good move for ATT is to cut their price and stuck sucking so they can compete with T-Mobile. If T-Mobile can get legit 3g ATT will loose more market share. They are banking on the Iphone but that and 3g is all they have. This verizon/alltel nonsense is just that. CDMA phone burn batteries and are limited in where you can take them. Alltel had reasonable prices and the my circle business with up to 20 people Verizon will just get rid of that and increase the price more. Disgusting. I hope the US attorney sues to block this. These companies need to be broken up not put together.
If anyone should be worried about this, it should be sprint.
Sprint relies heavily on ALTELL roaming agreements, and even in situations where there is excellent native sprint voice coverage, they are in many places roaming, unknown to customers, on alltel's 3G EVDO. (great part of southern mississippi and surrounding areas). The phones have EVDO, but sprint coverage maps have it nowhere to be found.
Sprint also relies on verizon roaming in many areas... but the rumor for a good while has been verizon is shutting them out in some markets and hesitant to roam on sprint ahead of anyone else with available coverage. I'm sure the roaming agreement sprint has under contract would have to be honored until they expire, but this very realistically brings to the forefront the realization, and hopefully sprint knows this, verizon doesn't need anything from them anymore and has no reason to allow them any future roaming privileges the government doesn't force them to offer.
for whoever asked how verizon cripples their phones:
1). GPS. I can buy any gps device and use gps for the rest of ever for free. Why would i want to pay verizon money to use a free service. Some smart phones are above this thank god.
2). Bluetooth. (again excluding most smart phones) all you can use it for is maybe stereo sound and a headset. no filetransfers of any kind. Its fricken bluetooth.
3). that god awful UI they put on almsot every phone. It is quite possibly the worst piece of sh&t ever created.
#3 should be #1 reason not to get Verizon. Oh god that UI is horrible. I'd rock a freakin Nokia 6110 from 1997 than ANY current Verizon phone.
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_6110-8.php
i think verizon is chaning that bluetooth thing. I have the glyde and I am looking at the listed services on my phone as i type this and it has:
headset support
handsfree support
DIN
stereo audio
phonebook access
printing
imaging
object push
serial port
also, an in-car GPS is $400-$1000. lets say you replace it every 4 years (optimistic in my opinion), thats $8.34 a month for the cheaper model. Verizon charges $10 a month for VZ navigator. I wish it was free too but the likely hood of a company just handing out a service of the caliber is asking a little much.
i agree that verizon is a little ridiculous in the nickel and diming department for their features, but people get a little optimistic in what should be free to them and verizon is changing some of it.
I'm guessing that the charges for GPS is more for streaming the maps, but even then, $10 per month is a bit excessive, it should just come out of your data plan.
I'm still predicting after the transition to LTE, the name changes to Vodafone USA. Also, someone mentioned that they should make a CDMA iPhone, why? Why would Apple put any effort into a CDMA version, when it would only be sold in the US, and complicate things. The world standard is GSM, and even Verizon is going to GSM, chances are Apple will stick the GSM path, and when Verizon is able to accommodate that, they will be welcomed with open arms. Remember, Verizon turned down the iPhone offer initially. :-)
Apparently they are launching in Japan. Japan is CDMA or some variant, isn't it?
Just an example...
No, if I remember correctly, they are (rumoured) to be going with DoCoMo or something. They don't have a GSM/EDGE network, they only have a UMTS/HSDPA network. There were rumors of them being launched in places that had some CDMA networks, but ultimately it went to the GSM based carriers. I have serious doubts a CDMA phone will ever come out of Apple, it goes completely against their ideals of one phone that works everywhere (You know what I mean) However, I have been wrong before, and I would not be completely against a CDMA phone, it just seem, at this point, a bad move for any cell phone carrier.
Re: the name change... there is no way Verizon is changing its name any time soon. The brand is far too valuable now that VZ has positioned it as a quad-play, unified network. Only at&t can boast a similar offering.
I don't think so:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/softbank-sell-apples-iphone-japan/story.aspx?guid=%7BCD3C15B4-9E7D-4B12-BA8D-3F1378BA84C0%7D&dist=msr_1
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/04/domo-arigato-the-iphone-is-coming-to-japan/
verizon have GSM in my country that dominican republic
I've been an Alltel user for years. I've been really happy with them. I got on my plan when I lived in NC. About 2 years ago, I moved to NY. I still use my same phone and number, and still get great service and reception. It's odd, because I can't start a new plan based in NY. But I can use my NC plan up here without hassle. (Technically, I'm only one sub-branch of an NC-based family plan. The primary phone, and most of the other branches, are still in NC.)
This acquisition does not make me happy. I've been eyeballing the iPhone for awhile now, but wanted to wait until 3G, more capacity, etc.
Now that it looks like the new phone should probably be announced on Monday, along with this impending acquisition, it's making me seriously consider jumping ship over to ATT before Verizon buys out Alltel.
So, based on today's numbers, this merger would place Verizon with 9m more subscribers than ATT. But, after Monday, I wonder how many people will be jumping from Verizon and Alltel over to ATT so they can use the new iPhone? By the time the merger happens later this year, I think there's a chance that ATT could still have the largest user base, or at least significantly close the gap.
It'll be interesting to see where all this goes. But I am definitely not thrilled with the idea of being with Verizon. I liked Alltel a lot.
I really hope this doesn't get past the Antitrust stage, because I really don't want this to happen.
Yeah, I like Alltel a lot, too. Been with them for years, all the way from Arkansas to NC. Can't beat their pricing- all you can eat data for $25? That's two lines, 1400 minutes and the data for less than $100.
>It's as if 13 million voices were heard in unison scream "OH SH*T!".
Make that 13 million and one.
Honestly, why is everyone constantly talking about why Verizon declined the iPhone? The iPhone isn't something I would be wanting right now. I've worked for Apple and did support for the iPhone, and knowing Apple's reputation by 2010 there will be 4 more iPhone's.
Now about the merge, think about it. Verizon is opening its doors to any device, once they've done that it opens the door to the GSM population. If I'm right, with Verizon merging with Alltel their customer numbers go up, and with Alltel's rule coverage customer are able to roam to more places, and on top of that with Verizon already selling global phones that have CDMA/GSM capabilities to roam to other countries. I personally think that by doing this Verizon/Alltel has the opportunity to take over the CDMA/GSM networks here in the states. Now thats the smartest thing that they can do if they wanna take over the cellular market......
According to http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=762231398&play=1 , VZW is only expecting to divest 15% of the markets. It also mentioned a new roaming agreement as part of the deal.
This is going to kill Sprint as far as things go. Really it's pretty much making the market AT&T (71m) v.s. Verizon (80m), with T-Mobile being the smaller middle man (31m). Sprint still has 58m customers up for grabs, however, so we'll have to wait and see what carrier they start to jump to.
Anyways, reason I posted this was to bring up the question, Will Verizon take on the "My Circle" benefit of Alltel?
I just wanna know who's gonna summon the wizard now? :(
what does the iphone have to do with anything i mean come on now. I am an apple fanboy and i will admit it but there is no need to mention the iphone when it comes to verizon gobbling up alltel
next is sprint. future maybe at@t too things are looking good for VZW now.
Qualcomm is working on a dual GSM & CDMA chipset - in the future almost every VZW phone will be "global".
CDMA is not dead. GSM is not dead.
The future is IP based communications. At this point it looks like the next technology battle will be LTE vs. WiMax.
ATT and VZW are both going LTE
LTE is not going to take long to roll out. 700 MHz = less towers. Less towers= faster build out
Price plans between VZW and ATT are identical.
ATT typically follows VZW price plans.
Sprint and T Mobile are cheaper for various reasons.
2 premium carriers and 2 discount carriers =No monopoly
Consumers have dollars in thier pocket - use them how you want.
Those above statements are facts.
Oh jeez I hope we don't have to put up with the "Can you hear me now?" guy and Chad in the same commercial.
For your information APPLE went to Verizon first when they were going to bring out the IPHONE but Verizon turned them down because they wanted way to much control and money out of each phone. just google it.
Let me first start by saying that a followup commercial needs to be established in which Verizon's "Can you hear me now?" guy unzips his work jacket, Red-headed Verizon guy (from Alltel commercials) pops out and sucker punches Chad while exclaiming "Come and get your looooove Beeeeeotch!"
Perfect...Marketing needs to be all over that for sure!
"Allizon" is my vote; sounds like a cheap liquor lol
So to be clear...quit bitching about the iPhone not being CDMA, who cares...if you really want it, you would have bought it by now instead of complaining here...go get it already and leave it out of the posts.
Alltel subscribers worried about losing coverage? Come on! Really? Verizon just bought your towers they didn't just buy you (obligatory: you just got pwnd by Verizon) Just accept that you'll have truly superb service from here on out.
Bottom line all of you out there in comment/ blog land: No matter who you are with whether it's Verizon, AT&T or any other carrier you have to understand that they are ultimately there and in place for a reason: to make tons of $$$$ from consumers. So quit crying that you didn't get a handout Mr. and Mrs. Freeloader and just enjoy the products and services you rely on and do this while knowing that your carrier is willing to gobble up other's to expand their coverage for you - the consumer!
And one more thing - Sprint/Nextel merger failed miserably because of the 2 different technologies. Verizon and Alltel share technologies. So here it is: Allizon with it's 80+million subscribers will gain ground faster than you can waste your time blogging. LTE, new cutting edge devices and superior customer service (can't disprove statistics) will continue to dominate the US wireless world.
I think that's all I have.
First of all there is a real reason why Verizon started the open network initiave. The users that have alltel currently will still have access to their old software, verizon might offer software updates to those who want to take advantage of it for games and downloads etc. but it will not force it on the altell users i know plenty of vzw users who have flashed their handsets to different operating systems other than the stock verizon os. i don't have a stock os on mine and it works great for data and voice. Second CDMA is not dead as i'm currently using it for my voice and data and it works rather well, so it's still alive and kicking as far as i'm concerned, granted that with the move to LTE verizon will probably ditch its CDMA networks in favor of VOIP over LTE as most carries will when they have a solid network established with LTE. As for being a monopoly its not even close considering that AT&T will still have 70 some odd million customers and sprint still has about 50 million customers so it will not even have half of the subcriber base not counting t-mobile and other regional carriers. They are simply growing to the largest wireless customer base some thing that AT&T did when they merged with cingular. This is not even getting close to violating anti-trust regulations so it will have no problem with the merger. VZW prices are higher than others generally true so how do you explain that they have so many customers? If its a free market and it truly is, even taking into consideration etf fees after two years the term is over and they are free to choose without penalty and even take their number with them, people can switch to whatever carrier they feel if it was truly based on price everyone would be with t-mobile/cricket/metro. I'm supprised how many people are opposed to Verizon personally i've been with just about every cell phone company and found verizon to be the best allthough more expensive. The addage is true you get what you pay for, because i pay for more service i'm now going to be able to take advantage of the added coverage for data that the merger with Alltel will give me, as with voice we pretty much had roaming agreements for that already. As with the whole iphone thing, really havent we beaten this horse to death already? Verizon doesn't hav the iphone i don't care. i've used it i wasn't impressed, if you think that vzw phones are locked down the iphone is the epitome of locked down. Cell phone companies are not charities they are for profit get used to it sometimes that means they make decisions that make us upset, deal with it or go without a cell phone last time i checked there were still people living without them, they are a luxury not a necessity even if your field of work requires one ther are enough people that have them in your line of work that if you left it wouldn't affect the market so dramatically go find another job if you are that displeased. All companies do things that make their customers think WTF but obviously it works you have the right to do what you want if you don't like the service.
sorry should have used paragraphs
The funny question that I have to ask is this: who else is amused by the idea that the funny little Verizon guy is now going to own Chad in the commercials?
WIZARD!
This is a great and wonderful move; a win, win situation for all. I moved to a rural area in Virginia where Alltel is the only choice. Alltel sucks; it only works in your area code so it is not really a national network, you roam all the time and it is 40 cents a minute for roam calls. Altell is really the only cell phone choice in the majority of rural areas in the U.S. They also have the cheapest(in quality) phones on the planet; very poor quality especially those Kyocera phones. A merger with Verizon will bring Alltel customers out of the cell phone stone ages and into the current millenium. This merger should have be done years ago.
Screw the i-Phone and screw Verizon. I have been with Alltel for many years and hate the thought of losing the services I and my son have now. We pay around $85 a month now (including taxes for two phones) and use on average around 3,000 minutes each month. We have no roaming fees, and nationwide long distance. We can go most anywhere in the U.S. and use our phones and it doesn't cost us anything more than what we are paying now.
Will we lose our "10"? Very likely. Will we lose getting to start calling for free at 7:00? Very likely unless we want to pay a lot more for it.
Us Alltel customers are going to get royally screwed in this deal after our contracts run out. (I wonder if I could run out and sign a new five year contract?)
I live in Baraboo WI which currently has US cellular and ALLTEL wireless companies. Verizon wireless is not a licensed carrier yet. there is 6 towers around my home the closest 2.6 miles from my house i was told. will that give me good reception in my house?? I really don't want to sign another contract with US Cellular again..I don't know what i should do? sign up for Alltel and ride out the merge. Or i could get Verizon Wireless and deal with what service i do get until this goes through. My phone i have is dying fast so i don't know how long i can wait. i heard it might be Dec. before the merge happens..
Is WI for sure in the merge?? I am so confused. US cellular service went down recently so i was wondering if they had roaming deals that were stopped now that verizon is in the picture and they would be competition or what?