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FCC approves AT&T acquisition of Alltel assets
In a process that started back in January of this year, the FCC has given the thumbs-up to AT&T on its proposed $780 million acquisition of Alltel assets. The package includes retail stores, approximately 620,000 customers in the midwest, network equipment and spectrum in the 700MHz, 850MHz and 1900MHz bands. AT&T isn't getting away scot-free, however, as the FCC will only approve the deal based on a few conditions: first, the network needs to deploy HSPA+ and LTE in the new areas within 15 and 18 months (respectively); second, AT&T must keep Alltel's 3G EVDO network alive and kicking until at least June 15, 2015. Third, AT&T needs to ensure that every affected customer gets a comparable phone for free without a contract extension. These types of conditions are nothing new for network acquisitions; such transitions are never fun for the customers involved, so it's refreshing that the FCC isn't forgetting their immediate needs in the process. The full details of the approval are located in the FCC docs, which we've included in the source link.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 26th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought convincing signs that BlackBerry users are moving away from physical keyboards, along with a new budget Android smartphone for MetroPCS and a stumbling block that's holding up AT&T's acquisition of Alltel. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 26th, 2013.
AT&T snatches up Alltel's US operations for $780 million
Alltel's retail shops, 585,000 customers and the chunks of the 700MHz, 900MHz and 1900MHz bands it operates will soon be part of the AT&T family. Pending an FCC review, of course. This morning the former Ma Bell announced that it would be purchasing the American assets of Atlantic Tele-Network, which uses the Alltel brand here in the US, for $780 million. While the additional customer revenue will surely be welcome, it's clear that AT&T is primarily after the spectrum here, which it calls "largely complimentary" to its current holdings. The smaller carrier is particularly popular in the rural areas of Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina -- places that the nation's second largest mobile network could use a boost in. Besides regulatory approval, which shouldn't prove to be a major obstacle, the company also faces challenges integrating Alltel's existing infrastructure with its own. Currently the smaller carrier operates a CDMA network on its frequency bands, which must be retooled to work with AT&T's GSM, HSPA and LTE technologies. Customers will also need to be migrated from their current handsets to AT&T compatible ones. So, while rural customers could see a significant improvement in coverage, we wouldn't expect the deal to bear fruit immediately. For more, check out the PR after the break.
Refresh Roundup: week of December 24th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Verizon may cut what's left of Alltel data starting January 10th, 2013
Alltel customers brought under the Verizon umbrella have been getting more and more signals that it's time to let go of that legacy phone. The latest red flag is a letter that Droid-Life understands is making its way to holdout customers. According to one copy, Verizon will start shutting down the remnants of Alltel's data service on or near January 10th, 2013. Alltel's mobile data should be completely inert after April that year -- and those still clinging to the past will be down to basic phone calls and SMS until they get Verizon-blessed devices. At least corporate customers are getting incentives to cross the divide, so you can't accuse Verizon of forgetting to use the carrot along with the stick. We'll admit that we aren't exactly mourning the eventual loss ourselves: customers by that point will have had four years to make the leap, which in this era can feel like an eternity.
US Cellular, Alltel Wireless team up to launch 'U Prepaid' service in Walmart stores
Good ol' Wally isn't a stranger when it comes to offering prepaid wireless goods within its shops, and now the retail giant's about to add yet another service to that carrier-packed inventory. Starting next month, US Cellular -- in partnership with Alltel Wireless -- will begin rolling out a new contract-free package dubbed "U Prepaid," which, naturally, is set to be backed by both of the aforementioned carrier's networks. The fresh U Prepaid deal will be making its way into "nearly" 500 Walmart stores across 18 US states, though there's no mention of which ones specifically. That being said, US Cellular and Alltel did announce the four devices coming at launch, including Samsung's Repp and Chrone along with the LG Attune / Exchange and Saber. In any case, now you know where to go if those recently announced plans from AT&T and Verizon aren't keeping a smile on your face.
Verizon to stop allowing legacy Alltel devices to be activated on its network, starting today
It's been three years and two days since Verizon officially closed its acquisition of Alltel, and it looks like Big Red's finally putting the sledgehammer down on activating legacy devices from the purchased network. We just received official word from a Verizon spokesperson that effective today, the carrier will no longer allow you to bring over an Alltel device to a retail outlet and get it activated on their network. If you're currently using an Alltel-branded phone on Verizon, don't panic: this new policy change only applies to handsets that haven't already been activated. We can't imagine this will affect too many users at this point, but we imagine Chad's still feeling a little bummed out today regardless. Continue on below for Verizon's statement.
iMobileMinutes for Android refills your prepaid's empty tank
For all you free-wheelers who prefer talking without commitment, iMobileMinutes is giving you one less excuse to go running to the gas station when it's time to top up your cellular account -- thanks to a free set of carrier-specific apps in the Android Market that perform the same function with considerably less effort. Now, you can purchase minutes directly (or get the necessary PIN), in the denomination of your choice, all from the comfort of your Google-powered smartphone. If this sounds appealing, there's support for Alltel, AT&T, Cricket, H2O, Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, along with Airlink, Airvoice and Net 10. It's certainly a nifty alternative, but if you're not ready to cut ties with your favorite 7-Eleven clerk just yet, there's always Slurpees. Just don't blame us for the brain freeze, okay?
HTC Merge coming to Alltel, preloaded with Amazon Appstore on Cellular South
The elusive HTC Merge has been on our radar since last fall, and while it's been officially announced, played with, and FCC approved, carrier availability has been all but a mystery -- until now that is. Alltel is presently taking pre-orders for the Merge with a price of $125 on contract (after $50 mail-in rebate) and a ship date of April 5th. Meanwhile, Cellular South is launching the Merge "next month" for an undisclosed price, but will offer the handset pre-loaded with the Amazon Appstore for Android -- a world first. Strangely, there's still no indication when (or even if) the device will emerge on Verizon. Just a quick recap: the Merge is a global smartphone (dual-mode CDMA / GSM) with a slide-out keyboard, 3.8-inch touchscreen, and 5 megapixel autofocus camera, running Android 2.2 with Sense UI. Hit the source link below for Alltel's pre-order page, and jump past the break for Cellular South's press release. [Thanks, Chase M.]
Sprint losing on-network coverage in parts of Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming
If you're in the magnificent boondocks of North America and you're on Sprint, you're going to have to start to be a little more careful with your voice and data usage -- in fact, if you live in parts of North Dakota, Wyoming, or Montana, you might be forced to consider a carrier change on news that some swaths of on-network footprint are changing to roaming coverage on March 1st. The move is said to be a result of Verizon's divestiture of certain ex-Alltel markets to AT&T, and it means that if you're on Sprint and you use more than 800 voice minutes (or half your plan) in the new roaming areas in a month, the carrier's liable to suspend you; similarly, you won't be able to exceed 300MB of data. Certain device and plan features don't work in roaming areas, either -- Sprint details them on its FAQ page about the change -- so if you live in those parts, you might need to look at moving to greener pastures. [Thanks, Kenneth L.]
LG Axis comes to Alltel... with Android 2.1
We know it's tough for the little guys to get great handsets without a top-tier carrier's exclusivity agreement getting in the way, but goodness -- launching an Android 2.1 device in early 2011 for nearly $100 on contract seems odd, doesn't it? That said, the few wireless markets that remain under the Alltel brand (they're down to around 800,000 customers in six states now) are nabbing a device called the Axis this week, featuring a 3.2 megapixel camera along with a 3.2-inch WVGA display -- specs that put it roughly in line with the Ally found on Verizon. Want it? It should be available to you now for $89.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on a two-year contract; follow the break for the full press release.
AT&T details transition for acquired Alltel customers
Yes, Verizon got the lion's share of Alltel's peeps post-merger, but AT&T is reaching out to the handful of customers it scored as a result of Verizon's divestitures and offering them deals on handsets in an effort to get them switched over to GSM in a smooth, timely fashion. Though owners of different Alltel phones are getting mailings offering different replacement devices (a Tritan owner is getting dumbphone promos and a Hero owner is getting what you see above, for instance), it would appear all upgrade deals apply to all customers making the transition, regardless of device. By and large, the upgrade offers aren't better than the best upgrade offers for regular AT&T customers, though there are a couple standouts -- you can get an Aria for free or a Torch for $100, for instance -- so the best benefit would seem to be that customers making the switch can cancel out entirely without an ETF for the first 30 days. The carrier isn't forcing customers to make the switch just yet -- nor will they offer a date when that's going to happen -- so it seems like this is just gentle encouragement at this point. [Thanks, Ron] %Gallery-106842%
HTC Wildfire reviewed in CDMA-packing, Alltel-branded guise
HTC didn't bother to announce this when it said the Wildfire would be coming to some regional American carriers in the fourth quarter, but it turns out Alltel -- the tiny bits left of it in the wake of the Verizon acquisition, that is -- is one of those carriers, and Android Central put aside a little time to check it out. Build quality is said to be reasonable (as you'd expect from an HTC device) albeit a bit on the plasticky side, the camera's decent, and the load of Android 2.1 is refreshingly close to stock -- but the deal-breaker is that ridiculously low-res QVGA display, something we took issue with in our look at the GSM Wildfire earlier this year as well (this CDMA version is the phone rumored as the Bee, by the way). All told, not bad for $30... but when you consider that the HVGA LG Optimus T is hitting T-Mobile for the same price, HTC might have to do better than this in the low-end war. [Thanks, Delon H.]
AT&T seals deal on Verizon's divested Alltel markets
It took a good, long while, but AT&T has finally closed on its acquisition of the markets Verizon was required to divest in order to get the government to agree to its purchase of Alltel early last year. For most customers, the move has no practical impact -- the markets are mostly rural -- but for affected folks, it means that they'll be able to "select a device comparable to their existing device at no additional cost" as markets get upgraded over the course of the next 12 months. Interestingly, all of the markets will be getting the 3G treatment, a sharp departure from AT&T's typical strategy of keeping unpopulated areas on EDGE -- but it probably makes sense to get them up and running on 3G since the network's got to be built up from scratch anyhow. Follow the break for the full press release.
Microsoft Kin specs update: 600MHz processors, ambient sensors
Surfing Facebook for Kin info? That's so last year. The cool kids are members of the "upload generation" -- meaning they wait at gdgt for Microsoft employees to upload the specs. This week, social marketing director John Starkweather did just that, and now we know that both Kin One and Kin Two will sport a 600MHz processor and EV-DO Rev. A when they come to market in May, as well as light and proximity sensors. Bluetooth remote and headset profiles are to be had alongside Microsoft Exchange, and there's support for H.264, MPEG-4 and WMV video files. Last and assuredly least, the phones aren't technically Verizon-exclusive in the US; the last remaining customers of Alltel will also get their chance to show off tragic, angst-filled lives.
Alltel launches BlackBerry Curve 8530
Alltel's also gotten on the BlackBerry Curve 8530 bandwagon, but unlike Sprint, Verizon, and Telus, the contract is shorter and the price is oh so much sweeter. The regional carrier's (well, more like micro carrier ever since Verizon swallowed most of it) version of the phone rings in at $499, but after $360 online discount and $100 mail-in rebate, you're only going to have to plonk down $39.99 -- with a qualifying plan, of course. And hey, the best part about it is being able to hate on all your T-Mobile-toting friends who are stuck with 2G on the 8520, right?
Alltel picks up the Samsung Freeform, looks pretty well-defined to us
Most Americans likely won't ever get a crack at Samsung's latest low-end portrait QWERTY design, despite the fact that Virgin Mobile Canada's managed to snag it as the Link. Notice we said "most," because Alltel -- what little remains of it outside Verizon's clutches -- has picked it up as the "Freeform." The phone makes do with a 220 x 176 landscape display clocking in at 2.2 inches, a 1.3 megapixel camera (curiously forgotten from both the spec sheet and the press release), stereo Bluetooth support to accompany the microSD slot, GPS, and availability in both teal and burgundy -- both bolder choices than the deep gray offered up north. It runs $69.99 on a one-year contract (remember that those guys recently dropped the two-year deal), which is a little more than $20 less than what Virgin Mobile Canada's charging on prepaid.
HTC Snap comes to Alltel for $79.99
Alltel customers -- totally legit ones who've been left out of the Verizon integration -- have a few things going for them, not the least of which is a one-year contract policy that applies across the lineup. That means you can get a Tour for the same two bills you'd pay on Sprint or Verizon but with only half the time commitment, but now, it also means you can get an HTC Snap (generic version pictured above) for just $80. Considering it's the same form factor with international roaming capability that the Tour offers, that might be $120 worth saving if you're not married to BlackBerry OS and you're willing to give WinMo a fair shake. That's not so crazy of an idea, is it? [Via Phone Scoop]
Alltel picks up BlackBerry Tour, Samsung Glint
That shot of an Alltel-branded Tour in the wild turned out to be stone-cold legit seeing how the regional carrier (what's left of it following the Verizon acquisition, anyhow) is now offering the phone for $200 -- the same price you'll find on Sprint or Verizon. That's cool and all, but we know the real reason you're reading this is that they've also launched the Samsung Glint, a low-cost flip with a VGA cam, stereo Bluetooth, and availability in both pink and blue. Both devices are available now, though we've yet to see 'em show up on the carrier's site so you might want to make some phone calls before running down to the store. [Via Phone Scoop]
HTC support site reveals Hero for Sprint, Snap for Alltel
We've been asked not to reveal the URLs, but we can assure you we've seen this official support screen pictured above with our own two eyes, which means that the HTC Hero is all but confirmed in a juicy CDMA blend for Sprint. How (or if) that'll affect the availability of the US 3G version unlocked or on any carrier is unclear, but given Hesse's huffy language regarding Pre exclusivity, we wouldn't be surprised if they've got this one locked down for a while as well. We've seen a similar support page for an Alltel-branded Snap, so if you're still tied up in one of the carrier's legacy divested markets and you've been pining after the Snap (and Ozone) on Sprint and Verizon, fear not -- your own version is on the way. We'll admit, if you had asked us a few months back what American carrier would get HTC's highest-end Android phone to date, Sprint wouldn't have been our first guess -- but hey, good for them. If you can't win the coverage battle against the Big Red juggernaut, may as well try to win the exclusive hardware battle, right? [Thanks, Adam]
