FTC clears Verizon acquisition of Alltel, last hurdle crossed

It's already made it past the Department of Justice and the FCC after making a few concessions, and Verizon has now cleared the last major hurdle blocking its acquisition of Alltel, with the Federal Trade Commission today giving the deal its all-important stamp of approval. Unlike the other regulatory agencies, the FTC apparently didn't require that Verizon make any further concessions, and instead simply approved an early termination of their antitrust review and indicated that they had "no objections." For those keeping track, the deal easily pushes Verizon past AT&T to become the largest wireless carrier in the United States and, as we have heard, it'll also likely have the side effect of some job cuts from the Alltel benches.

[Via RCR Wireless]

[Rafer @ Dec 10th 2008 2:39PM]

Now that Verizon has everything we need to make a phone call all it needs are some good handsets.

[el Capitan @ Dec 10th 2008 2:48PM]

As long as they hold on to that system no-one else uses, we're gonna be stuck with their crappy phones :(

[Jesse S @ Dec 10th 2008 4:24PM]

Casio Boulder, HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch Pro, Blackberry Storm.

Erm, what?

[el Capitan @ Dec 10th 2008 4:47PM]

@Jesse

Which is a fraction of available smartphones out there.

But guess I've been spoilt over the past years having been with Vodafone, picking up phones (thats ANY phone) as I liked and only having to switch the SIM card.... (and syncing contacts)

[Aaron @ Dec 10th 2008 5:57PM]

@ Jesse

And all those phones are crippled for Verizon. Hell, the Touch PRO isn't even worth owning, because Verizon cut out half of its ram and knocked a chunk off the processor speed. Not to mention the fact that you are STILL forced to use VZNavigator, instead of a more open-source GPS application, despite the phone being a Windows Mobile device.

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 10th 2008 6:00PM]

what is a Touch PRO?
easy on the caps

[decoy @ Dec 30th 2008 9:40PM]

@ el Capitan

Vodafone? You mean the 45% owner and founder of Verizon?

[Alpha @ Dec 19th 2008 5:22PM]

I take it you haven't seen any of Verizon's phones lately...Hmm maybe you're just used to seeing that crappy IPhone always on commercial...In Christmas of 2005 Verizon had to opportunity to get that piece of crap and there is a reason why we told Apple to go screw themselves. Or maybe you're used to seeing TMobile put out crappy phones. Verizon has the best service and the best phones to go along with that, so complain all you want Verizon is the best...(Alot of people dont like the New England Patriots cause they're so damn good but face it or not, they are the best team in the 2000 season- 2007). Verizon will not be able to please everyone because there are some very picky people out there who would much rather have a good looking phone that doesnt work instead of having a phone that looks decent and have great reception... Get over the whole looks thing and appreciate what Verizon has done to make the entire cell phone industry much better and more competitive or perhaps get a Verizon phone then make an educated statement!!!...

[Eric @ Dec 10th 2008 2:43PM]

So... Alltell commercials will be gone, now?

Or will they spin them off and have the Verizon guy and the Alltell guy act like best friends?

[Squid7085 @ Dec 10th 2008 2:47PM]

Thats all I am thinking about too. Lol. I for one am waiting for the Verizon guy going gay for the Altell guy commercial. But we need a new guy, so idk, US Cellular guy? But yeah, Verizon has to take advantage of that, if not for just one commercial where the Verizon guy and Alltell guy become good friends. Or even better, they reveal that they have secretly been meeting behind the other guys back.

[StalematE @ Dec 10th 2008 3:33PM]

Are you a dingdong now?... Good.

[Squid7085 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:42PM]

It would be nicer is Altell was buying out Verizon, Its difficult to make an add positive when the Bully buys out the Nice guy. Because the commercial would really have to have the Altell guy going to the Verizon side, unless Verizon decides to adopt most of Altells practices. Wishful thinking.

[Seneca @ Dec 10th 2008 4:16PM]

No, I imagine the Verizon guy will still feel the Alltel guy is dingdong.

[SKI @ Dec 10th 2008 5:20PM]

They could just continue the commercials and leave the companies "separate." So if people go with Alltel or Verizon, they will still be going to Verizon without realizing it.

[Jason @ Dec 10th 2008 11:11PM]

This is how I see the next commercial -

'Can you hear me now' guy says 'Can you hear me now?' into his phone
'Chad' from Alltell answers 'Yes'

Cut scene.

Primo advertising idea right there people.

[Nerd Ferguson @ Dec 10th 2008 2:48PM]

Chad is gonna be extra smug now that he's got the network with him.

[TJ @ Dec 10th 2008 3:35PM]

OT - For the love of god man, PLEASE change your avatar. That thing creeps me right out.

[absinthe party @ Dec 10th 2008 3:45PM]

Whatever. He's still a ding-dong.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Dec 10th 2008 2:48PM]

Thank god I don't have to see that AllTel douche-of-a-guy chad in commercials anymore...

[Mikeweezer @ Dec 10th 2008 4:24PM]

I always thought the Alltel guy was the reincarnation of the 'Dude you're getting a Dell guy'.
Regardless, they can both blaze up a fatty together as their careers are now over.

[aaron @ Dec 10th 2008 2:51PM]

I have NEVER seen an Alltel store....anywhere

[kjb434 @ Dec 10th 2008 2:56PM]

The you must have never been to much of mid-US or any smaller mid sized city in the central US.

Alltel covered pretty much everywhere the big national guys didn't cover.

They were a small mobile carrier that grew to a nice size and held markets the others couldn't get into. This is one of the reasons Verizon is buying them.

[SupaYoYoMan @ Dec 10th 2008 2:56PM]

i've never seen a verizon store...

should be noted i live in a terrible place...

[Seneca @ Dec 10th 2008 4:18PM]

I've never seen day light. But I'm at a terrible place too - chained to Engadget reply button.

[mabhatter @ Dec 10th 2008 5:09PM]

this is like AT&T buying Centennial. Altel and Centennial made a modest living providing service to actual people where the big guys wouldn't.. They have limited offerings,. but they also have service in a lot of blank spots on the national's maps. I can't see how the DOJ/FCC/FTC let these through, rural areas will go right back to second-class citizens and pay extra for the privilege.

[Slick @ Dec 10th 2008 6:50PM]

@ mabhatter

My family (mom, stepdad, 2 brothers) have alltel. I have verizon. I think their cell bill is around 180 a month for 4 people. I pay 52. Without getting into a whole list of details, I don't see the gain of alltel over verizon as far as carrier quality. Certainly not in price.

Oh and the employees at the closest alltel store are Class A Douche' Bags.

[earlycj5 @ Dec 11th 2008 11:09AM]

I've seen plenty, been in plenty, your point is?

This buyout was one of the things that made me decide to go with AT&T. That and the fact that I have some great choices for handsets.

[shawnmos @ Dec 10th 2008 2:53PM]

Go CDMA!!!

[Frankenstein Black @ Dec 10th 2008 2:59PM]

Ok you got me to bite. "What you talking bout Willis?"

[James @ Dec 10th 2008 3:16PM]

He must have meant Go away CDMA!

[Squid7085 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:26PM]

Well, his Avatar says LaserDisk, so maybe he has a habit of holding on to dying technology?

[Jeremy W @ Dec 10th 2008 5:09PM]

Yeah, a dying technology that is used by the #1 and #3 providers in the United States. Exclusively. With no plans to change. Yep, definitely dying.

[James @ Dec 10th 2008 5:45PM]

@ Jeremy W

With no plans to change? Ever heard of LTE and wimax?

I dont know why im getting down ranked for wanting 4g to come and replace CDMA.

[icepop4who @ Dec 10th 2008 3:04PM]

I always knew Alltel is going to be bought. C'mon, a new wireless service amongst the cellphone oligopoly? It's basic economics.

[Jonathan @ Dec 10th 2008 4:22PM]

Alltel wireless has been around for over 15 years...

[boe @ Dec 10th 2008 3:09PM]

When are they just going to buy Sprint?

[Jeremy W @ Dec 10th 2008 5:10PM]

They don't have to buy Sprint. All they have to do is pick up the pieces when Sprint eventually goes out of business.

[Evan @ Dec 10th 2008 3:17PM]

Apple better get to work on a new commercial, removing "largest 3g network" before they are hit with more false advertising suits lol

[Nerd Ferguson @ Dec 10th 2008 3:20PM]

You mean AT&T?

[Squid7085 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:28PM]

It's a loophole, it is "technically" the largest, because the only other "3G" network is T-Mobiles. What Sprint and Verizon use is a 3G comparable technology, but only the GSM one is officially referred to as "3G." Thats the way I look at it anyways.

[Jeremy W @ Dec 10th 2008 5:14PM]

The "GSM one" as you call it (not really GSM at all, it's based on W-CDMA) is officially called HSDPA. "3G" is a collection of tecnologies, which includes Verizon's (and Alltel's) EVDO.

Get educated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G

[Chris @ Dec 10th 2008 3:36PM]

So when is this actually going to happen??
I just got the new Moto Hint from alltel (which is awesome btw) last weekend and the guy at the retail store said that everything was already approved and that it was only a matter of time..? He had no idea when, even though both companies stated that the merger would be complete near the end of 2008.. You'd think that all they would have to do is flip a switch lol jk but they should still let us know.. Oh and the alltel logo on the back is going to annoy the hell out of me.. grr

[Joseph @ Dec 10th 2008 3:40PM]

Screw Verizon. Before long, we'll have a 1980s AT&T situation, with a monopoly on cell phone service the way we had a monopoly on landline service. The morons at the FTC failed us by allowing this deal with no concessions.

[Rogue_Genius @ Dec 10th 2008 4:11PM]

Joseph @ Dec 10th 2008 3:40PM wrote: "The morons at the FTC failed us by allowing this deal with no concessions"

You are incorrect. See below

"the FTC apparently didn't require that Verizon make any further concessions..."

[Tyson @ Dec 10th 2008 4:09PM]

Thank you government for not doing your job.

[Iridium @ Dec 10th 2008 4:44PM]

Your Government and FTC screwing America over for cash since well forever.

I can't wait to have even worse service than Verizon has now. I can't wait for the new plans with $2 text messages and 100 minutes for $59 a month.

As much as people badmouth Sprint they at least came close to the rate quoted. I had a $39 plan and my bill was always $45 after taxes and surcharges. Verizon always finds a way to make a $39 bill into a $70 bill without really saying why.

I also love how Verizon doesn't count inCalling half the time. Verizon is a terrible company, pretty close to Adelphia cable.

Hey FTC and DOJ, DO YOUR DAMN JOB. You are supposed to prevent mergers that will harm consumers. Every merger over the past 20 years has done nothing but hurt consumers. Look at the damn banks. Now we have three mega banks that don't have to lend money because there aren't enough small banks to pose a threat.

[jeesusfreek @ Dec 10th 2008 11:47PM]

wow, shut the fuck up? I just wasted about two minutes reading your worthless response.

1) the taxes and surcharges are based on government and local rates and are (for the most part) carrier independent
2) Verizon holds the NUMBER ONE spot in every demographic in the latest Consumer Reports tests (either last month or the month before), including Customer Service and coverage
3) Probably the best customer support reps I've ever talked to, and willing to wheel and deal is a huge plus - not to mention they're AMERICAN
4) I've never had an issue with in-calling, and a quick Google search reveals you're pretty much alone on that one.

I pay $35 a month for 1400 shared minutes (at the end of the month, between the 4 lines we have, we use maybe 800) and unlimited texts/pic/video/IM to everyone (I go through 7000 a month easy)....AFTER taxes.

Show me a better deal on any network and I'll sign right up.

[JS @ Dec 11th 2008 10:22PM]

Thank you. Verizon is the only carrier that works half decently in NE Tennessee where I live and Alltell and Verizon are the only two that work in western Virginia where my parents live (Alltell is slightly better due to buying out a local company recently, so they are very happy with this merger.) I have never had any problem with their service, my phone often works when friends don't. The only issue I have is with the cost of ringtones and the absolute inability to put any kind of custom tones on the newer phones. And as someone said above, Verizon has no problem programming competitors phones.

[Cscamp20 @ Jan 6th 2009 4:27PM]

What he F are you talking about? YOu must have been living in a cave...We all know WZV wireless has the best network and great customer service. Care to give some proofs that Verizon is a terrible company?

[Jorge @ Dec 10th 2008 5:45PM]

So I guess Chad has now become Verizon's bitch. Can't wait to see the new commercials.