Verizon completes Alltel acquisition, now covers 83.7 million customers as nation's largest wireless network

As promised, Verizon and Alltel tied the knot today, in a $5.9 billion acquisition, plus $22.9 billion of Alltel debt. Combined they form the nation's largest wireless carrier, with 83.7 customers (12.9 of those from the Alltel fold). For the time being, Alltel customers can sit tight and continue to use their devices and service plans as usual, with re-branding operations to happen Q2 and Q3 of 2009.

[PixelHustler @ Jan 9th 2009 11:43AM]

83.7 customers, huh? And almost a whole thirteen of them came from Alltel. I'd say that was worth the billions of dollars.

[Andrew @ Jan 9th 2009 11:44AM]

83.7 customers eh?

[Spongy @ Jan 9th 2009 3:18PM]

And why isn't it a whole number? Are some missing heads, limbs, or other body parts? :P

[Asten @ Jan 9th 2009 11:46AM]

boo!

[Cory @ Jan 9th 2009 11:54AM]

Does this mean that we've finally seen the end of Alltel's stupid "Chad" commercials?

[JamFish728 @ Jan 9th 2009 11:57AM]

I did notice the Verizon Geek not talking so much anymore...who knows, they could do Chad/Verizon Geek Commercials.

[Tarnation @ Jan 9th 2009 12:03PM]

He needs to have the same fate as that "Dude your gettin a Dell guy."

[nerdtalker @ Jan 9th 2009 12:11PM]

Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find out the Verizon guy and Chad were always in some sort of estranged love affair, and really just used the merger as a reason to be together forever.

Or somesuch.

[Egghead @ Jan 9th 2009 12:22PM]

I think the new commercial should show the Verizon guy getting fed up with Chad's silly promotions . Verizon guy lunges away from the other three guys, raising his fist in the air - a la Braveheart - tackles Chad and sends paperwork flying through the air. The next scene is the Verizon guy handing Chad a case full of money and walking away with a big grin. Outside you see the entire Verizon group cheering and the signature guy says "Come and get our love."

[wud_e @ Jan 9th 2009 12:26PM]

Everyone PLEASE Low Rank me because I like the Chad Commercials. :p I just like Goofy Stuff. :p

[Chad @ Jan 9th 2009 1:34PM]

I'm all for the NEW Chad

[Philip @ Jan 9th 2009 12:09PM]

Does this also mean more coverage for verizon/alltel customers?

[greg @ Jan 17th 2009 8:00PM]

sure for an extra charge

[Tarnation @ Jan 9th 2009 12:13PM]

It's a trap.


Om.Nom.Nom.Nom. mmmm customers.

[Tarnation @ Jan 9th 2009 12:25PM]

Can't believe I forgot this one.

All your customers are belong to us.

[Precurse @ Jan 9th 2009 12:15PM]

They now have a customer base of 2.5x the population of Canada (33.2mil).. sick

[KarlW @ Jan 9th 2009 12:32PM]

Let's hope that's enough to save them from going the same way!

[Dustin @ Jan 9th 2009 12:17PM]

Does this mean I can finally receive picture messages in Oklahoma City on my Verizon phone? Next week? Next month? Next year? Please?

[Brad @ Jan 9th 2009 12:50PM]

err... You can receive picture messages on your phone if it's capable and if you have a messaging bundle, now, always. Even from AT&T/T-Mo customers.

http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Picture%20Messaging/faq_pixplace.html#item7

Sorry for the double post, blame the hangover.

[Luke @ Jan 9th 2009 12:21PM]

Any talk on who will buy the Alltel market/properties that verizon has to sell?

[Patrick @ Jan 9th 2009 2:03PM]

I heard that AT&T will be buying all the Alltel markets in Vermont. I can't speak for others Verizon has to sell.


iPhone to land in Vermont

[theburn160 @ Jan 9th 2009 9:00PM]

i hear that US Cellular is buying some in Georgia

[payload @ Jan 9th 2009 12:30PM]

Chad will be the new "Can you hear me now?" guy

[Tarnation @ Jan 9th 2009 12:31PM]

Or we find out he is the guy on the other end of the line.

[Los @ Jan 9th 2009 12:56PM]

Chad will be the "yup" on the other end of "Can you here me now"

[ieko @ Jan 9th 2009 12:30PM]

What will happen to the roaming agreements with Sprint?

[ignition0 @ Jan 9th 2009 12:58PM]

In one of the many obstacles that Verizon had to overcome (FCC, etc..), one of the agreements is that Verizon had to honor all roaming contracts that Alltel had for at least 2-3 (iirc) years.

[Scrotum @ Jan 9th 2009 2:32PM]

I am wondering this too, Sprint and Alltel do not have EV-DO where I live, but VZW does. I hope this means I can roam on the VZW EV-DO network now.

[Brad @ Jan 9th 2009 12:48PM]

err... You can receive picture messages on your phone if it's capable and if you have a messaging bundle, now, always. Even from AT&T/T-Mo customers.

http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Picture%20Messaging/faq_pixplace.html#item7

[Justin @ Jan 9th 2009 2:31PM]

I think you missed what he was asking. Currently Verizon customers in certain areas are on "extended network" using Alltel towers. Those customers only can use text and voice services and very few other data services (web 2.0, picture messaging, etc). Dustin wants to know when these areas will be part of the "regular Verizon network". I'm also interested to see if Verizon now becomes a sponsor of Kansas State University football, since Alltel has been for the past 6 years or so.

[Shawn @ Jan 9th 2009 12:57PM]

Come and get your love.

[Tarnation @ Jan 9th 2009 1:22PM]

That's what she said.

[edit_text @ Jan 9th 2009 12:58PM]

The commercial should go down as such:

Chad is talking up "My Circle" as usual. Outside you notice a large gathering of people. Of this crowd one man walks in. It's the Verizon guy, of course, the posse outside is the network. He walk directly up to Chad with a large check in his hands. Disregarding the customers that Chad is speaking with, he hands Chad the large check. He then says, "Can you here me now?"

e_t

[EZ @ Jan 9th 2009 12:59PM]

So when will VZW and Alltel customers be able to 'in-call' each other?

[conor @ Jan 9th 2009 3:03PM]

once they get a new contract, the its the circle or in, one or the other.

[Jonathan @ Jan 10th 2009 12:23PM]

They're already working on that. Mobile2mobile between the two should happen in about 4 months. MyCircle lasts until the end of the contract or presumably until I try to change my contract. They've been doing 'maintenance' on my account this week and its been dropping internet and text mails like crazy. I hope its not a prediction of live with Verizon.

[Vicada @ Jan 9th 2009 1:02PM]

I'd like to meet that .7 customer, 'cause he's probably suffered a terrible accident, but is still able to use his mobile.

[boe @ Jan 9th 2009 1:05PM]

I'm getting tired of waiting - when are they going to take over Sprint? I'm hoping they give Hess a golden shower instead of a golden handshake as they toss his butt out the door for plunging the company into ruins.

[Xoyuji @ Jan 9th 2009 2:17PM]

There waiting for Sprint to go completely broke then pick them up for 1/20 of the price

[Scrotum @ Jan 9th 2009 2:35PM]

Dan Hesse is not the one that screwed Sprint up, it was the previous CEO who approved the Nextel takeover. Sprint will bounce back though, I know a lot of people who currently have Alltel and will switch to Sprint because a hatred of VZW. I currently have the opportunity to take advantage of a VZW employee plan due to family working there. Even with the savings it would not be worth it.

[boe @ Jan 10th 2009 8:51AM]

I've been with Sprint for a very long time. All carriers suck in one way or another - had all of them. The previous exec Gary Foreskin was no great leader as you said and I really thought he was bad but now I long for the happy days of yesteryear when he was in charge! Sprint cell coverage is great in almost all parts of the country I've been to. On the other hand, Sprint customer service is bad, their cell phones are never tested properly before release and just getting your new phone provisioned/activated properly is a nightmare but at least with him at the helm we got really good discounts to make up for that. We still have all those crappy issues but without any discounts to give you an incentive to stay. With Rudolf Hess at the helm however he's not only killing all discounts, he's alienated so many customers they are dropping like flies - believe it or not in much larger masses than with any previous exec which is impressive because as customers decline, that means not only are the number leaving increasing but proportionally they are increasing in exodus far more! Which is impressive since every other carrier just keeps having their numbers increase - such as alltel :)

[Scrotum @ Jan 9th 2009 5:04PM]

I will have to disagree with you regarding customer service, Since Hesse has taken over customer service has improved drastically. Before he took over I would have billing issues monthly, being overbilled anywhere from $200-$300 per month, and it would then take hours to resolve it. This was by going through Ecare and retentions. Now I rarely have issues with anything, other than implimentation of EV-DO where I live, also, when there are billing issues they are resolved by one quick email or phone call. I have been with Sprint for 9 years now and am currently happy with where things seem to be heading.

[boe @ Jan 9th 2009 3:04PM]

Scrotum,

Regarding billing issues I would have to disagree - not only do I have SPrint for myself, many of my clients have it and they actually pay me to take care of Sprint billing issues as they find it too time consuming, frustrating and difficult to deal with. I'm still making good money fixing Sprint billing issues.

[Nadool @ Jan 9th 2009 8:41PM]

My girlfriend had Sprint years ago and every month for no good reason whatsoever her bill would be 2-300 dollars when her plan was for either 40 or 60 (can't remember) and she barely ever talked on the phone. It was a nightmare. If I remember I think she just cut her losses and paid the early termination fee because they were just going to get that much money from her next month anyway.

[Xoyuji @ Jan 9th 2009 2:18PM]

Can we get a new logo or atleast drop the checkmark

[chefgon_ign @ Jan 9th 2009 2:52PM]

WIZARD!

[Scrotum @ Jan 9th 2009 5:08PM]

@boe

Then I must have just gotten lucky that I no longer have those issues, and the ones I do have are being resolved quickly. I know that there are still a lot of improvements to be made, but I like the direction that Hesse is taking things right now. Also, I live in an area where GSM service really sucks everytime I go out, or have a friend with AT&T or T-Mobile come over to my house they are having dropped calls, have to go outside to talk, or ask to use my phone for their calls. Because of this GSM is not an option for me and with VZW being the only other CDMA network in town now I know I will be with Sprint for several years to come.

[Sporkinum @ Jan 9th 2009 8:50PM]

Can you hear me now? Nope? Guess that's why I had to switch back to US Cellular. At least Verizon had a 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

[Mr. Recession @ Jan 9th 2009 10:47PM]

Does this mean now they own most of the United States?

[me_rubin @ Jan 11th 2009 12:55PM]

That many customer and apple still won't let them sell the iphone...