Verizon Wireless to Merge with Alltel
Nov 10th, 2008 | By D. Granoff, Technology Editor | Category: TechnologyThe FCC has approved a merger between Verizon Wireless and Alltel. Here’s what it means to you as a customer:
Other than Sprint, Verizon and Alltel are the two main cellular carriers that use CDMA (spread spectrum) radio technology. Most of the other cellular carriers in the US (and for the rest of the world, for that matter) use GSM technology. This means that if you have a Verizon or Alltel cell phone, it’s useless unless you are in an area covered by a CDMA-technology carrier. To fill in the gaps in your coverage and provide roaming capability to its customers, a carrier can either set up roaming agreements with other compatible carriers, or just buy them. In this case, Verizon wireless went with plan B.
The FCC has granted most of the regulatory approvals requested by Verizon, and it looks like the merger is a done deal. The main issues left seem to be involved with getting Verizon to extend the roaming agreements that Alltel made with other carriers (agreements that will now benefit the customers of other carriers more than they benefit Alltel customers now that they will have access to a combined Verizon/Alltel network).
Verizon customers will have improved coverage in areas where Alltel is licensed, especially in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Alltel customers will have greatly expanded coverage through Verizon’s much-larger network. It remains to be seen whether or not Verizon will extend Alltel’s unique calling plans past the expiration date of customer’s existing service contracts.
ok down to business i have alltel account with them but my parents are verizon is it eating up my daytime minutes if i call them?
Dr. DeJesus replies:
Unless Alltel customer service tells you the calling Verizon numbers doesn’t count against your monthly minutes, don’t count on it. Remember too that you still may be under an Alltel contract and calling plan, and unless Alltel/Verizon notify you of a change, that is your deal with the carrier. For now, perhaps it might be worth signing up for a calling circle plan. Look at your current plan and see if that makes sense. Good luck!]
I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ONE BIG COMPANY AND CALL IT VerTell lol Verizon & alltell
I am currently an alttel customer the service is wonderful. the question i have is the following . with the merge are we still going to have the no roaming no long distance? I work out of town and my phone show roaming is that going to be better.
Our technology editor replies:
Verizon will be required to divest itself of some of its licenses in those areas where the Alltel merger would give it a monopoly. Odds are that the areas that they keep will see additional investment in improving coverage and service, if only to maintain their competitiveness. Generally speaking, after an acquisition, it makes sense to start bringing in the acquired customers “into the family” and treating them more like your regular customers, especially as their existing Alltel contract commitments start to expire. I would expect Alltel customers to be offered more Verizon-type service and terms going forward, but if there is a significant difference in pricing and minutes between Verizon and Alltel plans in the same area, you can’t expect Verizon to offer comparable or better terms at a lower price through their Alltel brand – that would cannibalize their Verizon business.
We recently switched to Verizon from Nextel. We went with Verizon because of the merger. Our Friends that have Alltel get great reception at our home just south of Leslie, MI. However, the reception we get with Verizon is awful here at home. When will we (or will we) see an improvement in the reception at our home as the companies merge?
Terese,
This is a good question that only the engineers in charge of the network consolidation project can answer. Your area may not be at the top of Verizon’s list of priorities. You can start by calling 611 from your cell phone and opening up a trouble report with Verizon and escalate it to the engineering group that serves your area and their customer retention group. No carrier should sign you up if you can’t get decent service at your home, and that’s the point you need to drive home when you call to complain. If you still have the chance to do so without paying a cancellation penalty, you may be able to cancel your Verizon service and switch to Alltel, rather than tough it out and wait for Verizon to finish their upgrades. I can’t speak for Verizon, as I am not their representative, but I feel these actions are probably your best chance at getting the service you deserve.
I’m a verizon customer who is getting very dissatified with the service that verizon has been giving for the past almost 3 years I used to live in stanwood michigan and had a fairly good signal there, but now when I go there I have to look all over the house and outside to find a signal and then cant hold it. I now live in cedar springs michigan, and have a girlfriend in Scotts michigan which is south of Kalamazoo, and she used to have a very good signal there after I convinced her to change to verizon, than her signal went someplace and now she has to look all over to find a signal if she can, when verizon and alltel merge will the service improve or not, we are both waiting to see, if service isn’t improved we are both thinking of changing to another service. when is the merge and service supposed to take place, soon I hope. thanks for any reply that you may give your customers.
DeVere Peer
a verizon customer for over 10 years.
DeVere,
Thanks for your comment.
The main change you will see will be connected with roaming agreements. If Alltel has coverage in an area that Verizon does not, either with its own network or through an agreement with another wireless carrier, you’ll probably see the other partner take advantage of the arrangement. There are areas where the two carriers have overlapping coverage, but there’s a good chance that the FCC will force Verizon to sell off their licenses in those areas to maintain competition. On the other hand, you’ll probably see some areas where Alltel’s cellular towers will fill in gaps and weak areas for Verizon customers.
If you want to know if there is overlap between Alltel and Verizon for a particular zip code, go to Alltel’s web site and enter your zip code. If Alltel is already providing service in that zip code, you’ll see offers for that zip code (I already did it for Scott, MI and there is already Alltel service there, so there’s a good chance that Verizon could fill in some gaps in its coverage.
The timing for when Verizon will implement these network changes, but the two companies are expected to close the deal on their merger on January 9, 2009. According to CNET, the merged carrier will have about 78 million customers, more than ATT wireless.
Honestly what doe this do to the contract you already have with alltel or verizon. Can alltel customer upgrade to one of their plans if it is a better deal or vice versa ?
Cindy,
The merger was just ok’d recently and the main impact at first will most likely involve integration of the two companys’ wireless networks. This should provide some improvement in service in some areas. You may also see some benefits to Alltel customers through Verizon’s buying power with the manufacturers, but it’s too early to tell. For now, verizon is maintaining 2 separate brand identities, so for now an Alltel contract is an Alltel contract and a Verizon contract is a Verizon contract.