Sheesh — now even Alltel is getting in on the action. It seems like everyone is trying to detract from Motorola’s big announcements later today as the flurry of news this morning just keeps on coming. In this latest addition, Samsung has announced the availability of the Samsung Freeform via Alltel. Specs include:

• Slim Bar Design with Four-row QWERTY keyboard
• Teal and Burgundy Color Options
• Music Player
• Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Multiple Messaging Options with Threaded Text Messaging
• Web-enabled
• GPS-enabled with Alltel Navigation
• Expandable Memory up to 16GB
• Speakerphone
• Voice Recognition
• Dimensions: 2.4″ x 4.42″ x .50″
• Main Display: 2.2″ QCIF, 262K TFT LCD

No, it won’t knock your socks off, but it’s certainly a viable messaging option for customers in the remaining Alltel markets. Though it is not currently listed on Alltel’s site and pricing has not yet been made available, the Freeform is said to be available immediately.

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Oh, divested Alltel customers — did you think you were going to get the shaft again? Cheer up, as half of the dynamic duo for which we exclusively scooped Verizon launch dates this morning is headed your way. Unfortunately, it’s Robin and not Batman. The upcoming Samsung u450 Intensity is indeed headed your way according to Bluetooth SIG. Sure it’s not as sexy as the Rogue but all you maniacal messaging fiends out there will surely welcome a budget Bluetooth 2.0+EDR-rocking, side-sliding QWERTY into your families, won’t you? No word yet on pricing or a release date but considering the handset is hitting Verizon at $30 on a 2-year contract, we would expect Alltel’s pricing to be in the same ballpark on a 1-year contract.

[Via CellPhoneSignal]

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Alltel customers in divested markets had plenty of cause to be jealous of their Verizon-owned brothers and sisters last month when Big Red launched the BlackBerry Tour 9630. Well, Alltel fans, it’s time to turn that frown upside down — Alltel has just announced the availability of RIM’s latest CDMA handset. The Tour is available immediately in Alltel stores and online for $199 on a 1-year contract after a $100 mail-in rebate. Gotta love that 2-year price on a 1-year contract. You will be required to select a Smart Choice plan, running $69.99 and up, and the Tour is compatible with Alltel’s famous My Circle calling feature. So, divested boys and girls, are you psyched that you can finally get your hands on the Tour or have you already moved on to daydreaming about the Storm 2?

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Despite the fact that there’s still plenty of Summer left to be enjoyed, companies just love reminding students that another semester/school year is waiting around the corner. Sure back-to-school deals are nice but it might have been nicer to keep school out of sight, out of mind for a bit longer. The most recent Summer buzzkill notable promotion comes by way of Alltel and is available to the 91 divested markets not controlled by Verizon Wireless. In Alltel’s words: “New and existing Alltel Wireless customers with “My Circle” plans, Smart Choice Packs, and Bundled Wireless Internet plans can add up to four lines to their primary account, with a $25 activation fee per line, and receive three months of free service on those new lines.” So parents, if you’re finally getting around to adding a few new lines for your rugrats this is definitely a nice little perk to sweeten the deal. Alltel’s back-to-school promo runs now through September 10th — more than enough time to mull it over.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Just a few days behind schedule, Alltel has launched one of the more exciting handsets that will become available to its customers this month — the LG Tritan. Spec highlights include a 3-inch QVGA touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, full HTML browser, music player, G sensor, Bluetooth and a 3 megapixel camera. Oh yeah, and an “advanced UI”. As far as pricing goes, Alltel’s press release states the Tritan is available for $99.99 online and in stores after a $100 rebate but, oddly, it appears to have shot high. The site clearly shows a retail price of $449.99, an online discount of $270 and a $100 mail-in rebate. Let’s see: Carry the 4… Drop the 1… Multiply by pi… Take the square root of… Yep we get $79.99, just like the site says. Our advice: If you want one, hurry up and snatch it online now in case the site is low and the release is correct. Oh, and the site also says the Tritan is BOGOed up (buy one, get one free) so family plan-holders, rejoice.

[Via Press Release]

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Pending regulatory approval, Verizon Wireless has agreed to sell the remaining 26 divested Alltel markets to Massachusetts-based Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. The companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Alltel properties located in Idaho, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and approximately 800,000 Alltel customers will be affected should the sale be approved. The big side story here — following the recent agreement with AT&T, each of the 105 divested markets now has a potential buyer. Hit the jump for the full text of a memo sent to all Alltel employees in divested markets from the Management Trust currently operating said markets.

As you know, when Verizon Wireless purchased Alltel on January 9, 2009, you became part of a Management Trust set up to operate former Alltel CMA that would not become part of Verizon Wireless. During the past few weeks, many of you have asked about the potential sale of those properties that AT&T does not intend to acquire.

Today, I have news to share on that front. Verizon Wireless has entered into a definitive agreement with Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. to sell properties in 26 CMA currently being operated by the Trust. These include over 800,000 Alltel customers in the following states: Idaho, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Verizon Wireless’ sale of the properties to Atlantic Tele-Network is subject to regulatory review and approval by the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Atlantic Tele-Network, headquartered in Salem, MA, currently provides telecommunications services in the United States, Guyana, Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos. One of the company’s principal subsidiaries is Commnet Wireless, LLC, which provides voice and data wireless roaming services for U.S. and International carriers, including Verizon Wireless, in rural areas throughout the United States. Commnet Wireless works in partnership with national and regional wireless operators to offer highly-reliable, feature-rich coverage in a variety of technical environments. They currently manage wireless networks in 14 states and operate networks with CDMA, GSM/GPRS & EDGE technologies in both the 850 MHz & 1900 MHz bands.

With the signing of this agreement, Verizon Wireless now has a potential buyer for all 105 CMA in the Trust. Verizon Wireless signed a definitive agreement with AT&T last month to sell properties in 79 CMA not included in today’s announcement. That sale also is subject to regulatory approval.

What does this news mean for you? For now, it’s business as usual for all Trust employees. We will continue to serve our customers and compete in the marketplace as vigorously as we have since the Trust was created. Essentially, the Trust will continue to operate during the regulatory review and approval process, and our jobs and responsibilities will remain the same.

Since the regulatory process will take time, it will be a few months before we learn if and when the transaction will close. In the meantime, we will provide updates as information becomes available.

Thank you for all your efforts and your patience during this process.

Wireless customers have been waiting for an option like this for a long time. With a 1-year contract option, customers can take greater control over their wireless experience, having the flexibility to choose their contract length and the latest innovative handsets at the most competitive price possible.

Sounds good to us! The change applies to both new customers and existing contract renewals. Question: Think the big four will follow suit?

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(ou ‘ɯɯn :ɹǝʍsuɐ)

A funny thing happened on the way to acquisition. The two largest carriers in the US, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, have commanded and conquered some smaller carriers and are now seemingly sharing the spoils. As already reported, AT&T announced on Friday that it will purchase a substantial portion of Verizon’s divested Alltel assets. On the same day, AT&T also announced that it will be selling certain portions of Centennial communications to Verizon Wireless as AT&T seeks final regulatory approval for the its acquisition of the small, rural carrier. Verizon will pony up $240 million for Centennial assets that include nearly 120,000 current subscribers in five service areas across Louisiana and Mississippi. In the end, we have AT&T buying assets from Verizon and Verizon buying assets from AT&T while T-Mobile and Sprint are nowhere to be found.

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Back when Verizon acquired Alltel, the FCC would only give the nod under certain conditions. One of those conditions was that Verizon divest some of Alltel’s assets after the acquisition so the market didn’t look like a Big Red monopoly. As was expected, AT&T is going to pick up a good chunk of those assets for about $2.5 billion. A bargain. Of the 85 divested markets spanning 18 states, AT&T will scoop up about 24 markets and we’re sure the company is being pretty selective as a good chunk of those markets are in less than desirable areas in terms of profitability. Expect the transactions, including those assets left to be divested after AT&T’s transaction, to be concluded by early July.

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Alltel has just announced the latest addition to its handset arsenal and it’s a familiar face indeed: RIM’s CDMA varient of the Pearl Flip. In terms of specs it’s not the most ground-shaking Berry of the bunch but for $79.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate, it is most definitely a solid option for bargain-seeking BlackBerry addicts. There are two caveats to the $80 price point however — first, the obvious two-year contract. Secondly, users must select from among Alltel’s Smart Choice Packs starting at $69.99 per month. All Smart Choice Packs include unlimited data, Internet and email however, so it’s hardly a deal breaker. If $80 for a shiny new Pearl Flip 8230 isn’t low enough for you but you’re in dire need of a Berry, the Curve 8330 is now $50 after a $100 mail-in rebate and the Pearl 8130 is free after a $100 mail-in rebate. Yeah, we’d definitely go for the Pearl Flip. Alltel’s 8230 is available in early May in all 91 markets. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Alltel Wireless launches the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone
New flip phone joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of handsets perfect for moms, dads and grads

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With wireless customers craving both style and functionality, Alltel Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) will be available in retail stores and online at alltel.com beginning in early May.  This stylish and compact smartphone puts customers in control of how, when and where they communicate and joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of phones that make perfect gifts for moms, dads and recent grads.

The clamshell design of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone allows users to discreetly screen calls and preview messages on the high-resolution external display or utilize the large internal display to respond to calls or messages, view maps and web pages, and play games.  With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the internal LCD displays videos and pictures in crisp detail and contrast.

“Alltel is committed to offering customers stylish and innovative phones, and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip gives customers the best of both worlds – a small, stylish smartphone rich in multimedia coupled with the industry’s leading mobile email and messaging capabilities,” said Angela Rittgers, director of product management for Alltel Wireless.  “As Alltel expands its handset lineup and showcases hot phones for spring, we know that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip will be a favorite with customers across the 22 states that we continue to service.”

Featuring a large SureType® QWERTY keyboard, an intuitive user interface with trackball navigation, built-in GPS with BlackBerry® Maps preloaded and support for locations based applications and services, and a 2 MP camera able to record video*, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone is packed with powerful features, yet sleek enough to slip easily into a purse or pocket.  It also features full HTML browsing, a rich media player with the ability to sync music from iTunes® or Windows Media Player**, an expandable memory card slot (microSD/SDHC up to 16GB) and stereo Bluetooth® support.  Customers can activate the smartphone on BlackBerry® Internet Service as well as BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.

In addition to the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, Alltel customers can choose from a wide-range of additional phones that make perfect gifts for any occasion, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and upcoming graduations.  Alltel is also offering the recently announced Motorola Evoke, great for social networking; the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, one of the most popular smartphones available today; the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone, an impressive handset that combines multimedia and communications features in a compact design; the Motorola Hint QA30, a stylish, compact device with a slide-out keyboard; and the LG Rhythm™, allowing customers to bring their music with them, right on their handset.

Alltel Wireless is offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone for $79.99, after a $70 mail-in rebate, at Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. This discounted price is available to new and existing eligible customers who sign-up for a two-year service agreement on a qualifying Smart Choice Pack.  Smart Choice Packs start as low as $69.99 per month and include unlimited data, email and Web access.  Alltel has also announced that the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is now available for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone is free after $100 mail-in rebate.

Alltel Wireless continues to serve 2.2 million customers and operate in the 91 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) that Verizon is required to divest. Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, providing unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15, or 25 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time without extending their contract.

For more information on the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, visit alltel.com or blackberry.com/blackberrypearl.

* Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.
** Using BlackBerry® Media Sync. Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.

• MyCircle 15 (replaces MyCircle 10): $59.99, 900 anytime minutes, 15 MyCircle numbers
• MyCircle 25 (replaces MyCircle 20): $99.99, 2,100 anytime minutes, 15 MyCircle numbers

Hit the jump for the full release.

Alltel Wireless expands industry leading “My Circle” calling feature to include five additional numbers for unlimited calling

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In 2006, Alltel Wireless revolutionized the wireless industry with the launch of “My Circle,” the extremely popular calling feature allowing customers to make and receive calls to and from any number on any network. Starting tomorrow, Alltel is making “My Circle” an even more robust, more flexible and more cost-effective calling feature. In the 91 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) that Verizon is required to divest, which will continue to operate as Alltel Wireless until they are sold, customers on “My Circle 10″ and “My Circle 20″ calling plans will automatically receive an additional five numbers for unlimited calling.

Alltel is once again demonstrating its steadfast commitment to providing its customers with value and unmatched control over their wireless experience with today’s announcement of a major expansion to “My Circle.”

With the addition of five numbers to “My Circle,” Alltel customers in these 91 CMAs in 22 states will now have unlimited calling to more of the people that matter most to them. The new “My Circle 15,” previously “My Circle 10,” and “My Circle 25,” previously “My Circle 20,” will maintain the same competitive rates. “My Circle 15″ starts at $59.99 per month and includes 900 anytime minutes, and “My Circle 25″ starts at $99.99 per month and includes 2,100 anytime minutes. The five additional numbers will be automatically available to existing “My Circle” customers on eligible plans.

“My Circle” pioneered the concept of unlimited calling, and we are thrilled to offer a level of flexibility and value to our customers which is not available from any other wireless carrier,” said Lynette Jurgens, Senior Marketing Leader, Alltel Wireless. “The best part is there is no action required by our customers to receive these additional numbers-they are instantly available to eligible accounts for customers in our 91 CMAs. By offering an additional five numbers to our most popular calling plans, Alltel is providing our customers with even greater value, and the freedom of unlimited calling to more of the people they talk to most often.”

Calls to “My Circle” numbers are in addition to anytime minutes, unlimited night / weekend minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes included in customers’ calling plans. Alltel customers still enjoy the convenience of changing their numbers anytime and at no charge by simply going to www.alltel.com/myaccount

Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature. And now, for customers in 91 CMAs, Alltel is providing unlimited calling to and from any five, 15 or 25 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time without extending their contract.

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Here we go again. On the one hand, rumorsville is buzzing with speculation surrounding the Evoke QA4, a rather intriguing touchscreen slider reportedly headed to US Cellular, MetroPCS and/or Cricket. On the other hand, you’ve got the VE465.

• CDMA 800/1900/1700/2100 connectivity
• 1.9 inch TFT internal display with 176 x 220 pixels and 65k colors
• 1.05 inch CSTN external display with 96 x 80 pixels
• Brew OS
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Music player
• Video player
• MMS, SMS, Instant Messaging, E-mail
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• USB 2.0
• MicroSD up to 4GB
• Talk time: up to 4.5 hours, Standby time: up to 12 days
• 1.8 x 3.9 x 0.7 inches, 3.8 ounces

We’re not sure exactly how this handset carries ruggedized devices forward but apparently Moto did something right as it has already been picked up by two known carriers, Alltel and TELUS. Release timing and pricing are still unknown but we’re hoping carrier subsidies take it down pretty low. Any of you outdoorsy types out there looking forward to snagging one?

[Via Unwired View]

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Alltel has reportedly launched a new $40 wireless broadband add-on option, a $20 drop from the regular $60 per month price tag. Customers must subscribe to a Smart Choice voice plan to be eligible for this $40 wireless broadband add-on, but it’s still not too shabby for a truly unlimited (read: no usage cap) EV-DO mobile broadband connection. Sorry Alltel-Verizon Wireless customers as this feature is reportedly available for divested customers only. Doh!

[Via HoFo]

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Right on time as we predicted, the Palm Treo Pro is now available on Alltel’s website and will set you back $199 with a 2-year contract after a $195 online discount and a $125 mail-in rebate. The one caveat is that the phone is apparently only available in divested markets. If you are a current or prospective Alltel customer and you try to buy from a zip code within a “soon to be acquired by Verizon Wireless” area, you will get re-directed to the Verizon Wireless site. Sorry folks, that’s life. Those of you in the sellable regions however, can get your Pro on right now.

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A little blue bird landed on our window sill this morning to let us in on a little secret – Alltel is all set to launch the Palm Treo Pro this Thursday March 5th. After a $125 rebate, the Treo Pro will set Alltel subscribers back $199 on a 2-year contract. The price isn’t all that bad for a new smartphone, especially considering it has the golden trifecta known as 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS, but when we see an American carrier charge more than a Canadian carrier we do start to panic just a little. Just one word of caution before anyone gets too excited — this might just be for divested customers only. C’est la vie, no?

Thanks, R!

As part of the Alltel merger, Verizon Wireless was required to divest nearly $3 billion in wireless assets as shown in the dark blue and red areas in the map above. According to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T is rumored to be one of three interested parties seeking to scoop up these soon-to-be-available markets. Other potential buyers include Providence Equity Partners LLC and a joint venture that includes the private-equity firms of Carlyle Group CYL.UL and Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co. Because of its strong financial position, AT&T could easily out bid these other investment groups and walk away with the lion’s share of these markets. Regulatory approval may stand in the way of AT&T’s rumored plans as the purchase of the divestitures must be approved by the DOJ. It is unclear whether the DOJ would approve such an acquisition by an already large wireless carrier such as AT&T. As of the writing of this post, both AT&T and Verizon Wireless have declined to comment on the rumors. Until these rumors are debunked, the question remains whether customers in these divested markets would be better served by a larger and more experienced wireless carrier like AT&T or a smaller firm such as one of the aforementioned.

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Verizon Wireless is moving right along with its integration of Alltel. As of yesterday, January 16th, Verizon Wireless customers can now call and text message certain Alltel customers for free as part of Verizon’s IN Calling and IN Messaging. To find out if the Alltel number is supported, Verizon customers can go to Verizon’s new Mobile to Mobile web page. Unfortunately, Alltel customers will continue to be billed according to their current plan for calls placed to Verizon customers until the two companies have merged operations. Starting February 15th, Verizon will also drop the “IN” moniker and rename the service as Mobile to Mobile calling and Mobile to Mobile messaging. Say goodbye to all those catchy “IN” slogans!

Verizon Wireless announced on Friday that it has completed its acquisition of Alltel. Verizon paid $5.9 billion for the equity of Alltel and assumed all of Alltel’s approximately $22.2 billion in debt. Verizon will gain an additional 12.9 million customers, making Verizon the largest wireless carrier in the US with 83.7 million total customers. Verizon will maintain the Alltel brand and customers of Alltel will retain their current handsets and calling plans during the transition. Verizon will notify customers about changes that will impact future service so we assume at some point Alltel customers will have to forfeit their Alltel plan and select one of Verizon’s calling and/or data plans. Most customers will be able to keep their current handsets after the transition since both networks support the same CDMA technology. Verizon will also maintain Alltel’s existing GSM networks. Re-branding will begin in Q2 2009 and will continue through Q3 2009. No imminent layoffs were announced but the press release states:

Alltel employees below executive level will continue in their present jobs as Verizon Wireless assesses staffing needs required to best serve customers and achieve synergies.

When a company starts throwing around buzz words like “assess staffing needs” and “achieve synergies”, you can assume that layoffs will be announced at some point before the merger and re-branding is complete. As part of the conditions of the merger, Verizon Wireless will also divest overlapping properties in 105 markets that span 24 states and will affect nearly 2.1 million customers. When all is said and done, some of you will be leaving Verizon and a whole bunch of you will be joining Verizon. if you’re among those who will be affected, let us know in the comments if you are pleased, disappointed or ambivalent about the impending changes to your cellular service.

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Verizon has been singing, “Give me the green light… I’m ready to go right now,” as its Alltel acquisition has finally been given the official go ahead. After receiving approval from the FCC, Verizon has finally been given the green light by the Federal Trade Commission as well. The FTC has decided to remove the biggest speed bump to the deal, its antitrust review. Although the $5.9 billion dollar merger will make Verizon and Alltel the largest wireless provider in the US combined, the FTC didn’t think there would be any antitrust issues (Verizon is, after all, divesting 100 markets in the US to comply with the FCC). Now after receiving the seal of approval from the FCC, Justice Department and FTC, Verizon is hoping to finalize the deal by late this year or early next year. Verizon surely has its work cut out for it as it’s forking over that $5.9 billion and taking on Alltel’s $22.2 billion in debt – but hey, at least Big Red can claim to be the largest network in the country now.

[Via Phonescoop]

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Either the timing was just right or Alltel really knows how to move. Either way, the recently-acquired US carrier just made its latest handset official and it definitely has a good chance of being popular among the younger crowd. Just yesterday we saw the Alltel-branded Motorola QA30 and today it it has been announced as the Motorola Hint. We’re not sure what it’s hinting at but here’s a quick recap of the specs:

• 1x-EVDO connectivity
• 2.5 inch TFT display with 320 x 240 pixels and 65K colors
• Threaded messaging
• Full HTML browser
• Facebook access
• Email, IM
• 3.5mm headset jack (nice!)
• Stereo Bluetooth 2.0
• USB 2.0
• 2MP camera
• MicroSD / MicroSDHC card support, up to 32GB

Not bad at all. It will also ship with applications such as Alltel Navigation powered by Telenav, XM Radio Mobile and Aricent Celltop. The Motorola Hint will become available on November 28th, Black Friday, though pricing info is not yet available. The handset also doesn’t seem to be listed on the Alltel site yet, though there is an image of it in a cycling banner on the homepage.

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No it’s surely not the Alexander we’re all waiting to hear more about, kind of, but it looks like Motorola has a QWERTY slider in store for us by way of Alltel. The bad news is that it won’t be home to Android, Windows Mobile or any other smart OS. The good news is that, umm, it could have really good battery life thanks to a dumb OS and a 65K color screen, maybe? Specs, Jeeves:

• 1x-EVDO connectivity
• 2.5 inch TFT display with 320 x 240 pixels and 65K colors
• Threaded messaging
• Full HTML browser
• Facebook access
• Email, IM
• 3.5mm headset jack (nice!)
• Stereo Bluetooth 2.0
• USB 2.0
• 2MP camera
• MicroSD / MicroSDHC card support, up to 32GB

The QA30 surely won’t be winning any races, or design awards, or performance contests, or beauty pageants – but it may well be a welcome addition to the Alltel lineup. Beyond that, it may be a rare case of Alltel being the first to get its mitts on a new handset. Or, it may be that we just haven’t seen leaks out of the other carriers signed on for the QA30.

[Via Unwired View]

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Alltel is gearing up for the holidays with yet another special offer that’s definitely worth checking out if you fall within the Alltel coverage area. The US carrier currently in the process of being swallowed by Verizon has just announced a nice little holiday promotion for everyone who purchases a new handset. From now through December 25th, every new handset purchased comes with a free one-month trial of two great Alltel apps: Alltel Navigation, which gives users turn-by-turn navigation and XM Radio Mobile, providing unlimited on-device access to 25 XM radio stations. Head on over to the Alltel site for full details and also, there’s one day left of Alltel’s free activation with any 2-year contract offer. Get on it!

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It looks like Samsung has a busy schedule coming up here in the US and while it goes without saying that we’ll be missing out on the cream of Samsung’s crop, there are definitely a few gems in store from our South Korean pals. AT&T, Alltel, Verizon and T-mobile are all covered here while Sprint is omitted. As such, we can probably expect a few additions to the list as 2009 rolls around. So let’s see what we’ve got here…

T-Mobile:

• Behold T919

AT&T:

• SGH-A777
• Eternity A867

Alltel:

• SCH-R600 Hue II

Verizon Wireless:

• Saga I770
• OMNIA I910
• Renown U810

That’s a whole lot of Samsung right there. The upcoming T919, announced earlier today, and A867 are particularly sexy and will both sport TouchWiz along with 5 megapixel cameras which is a nice little clarification from initial reports. Following all of these press shots, we should see time lines emerge in the not so distant future.

[Via IntoMobile]

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In a 5-0 vote, the FCC approved the $28 billion purchase of Alltel by Verizon Wireless. The approval requires Verizon Wireless to end operations in five other small markets neighboring those already required by the Justice Department. It also requires Verizon to honor Alltel’s existing roaming agreements with small wireless carriers for four years. With DOJ and now FCC approval in the bag, Verizon can complete the acquisition of Alltel to become the largest wireless carrier in the US. What do you guys think – good news?

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Thanks to a deal that has been quite a while in the making, AT&T is now on the verge is getting booted from its position as the nations largest wireless carrier. The Department of Justice approved on Thursday the $28 billion purchase of Alltel by Verizon Wireless. It comes at a price though, as Verizon will be required to divest their wireless holdings in 100 markets that span 22 states. According to Thomas Barnett, assistant attorney general in charge of the antitrust division, the divestitures required are among the most extensive required by the department in a wireless case and include the entire states of North Dakota and South Dakota, major portions of Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming, and sections of Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. The next hurdle for Verizon is the FCC which will vote on the acquisition in its next meeting on November 4th and is expected to mirror the DOJ divestiture requirements in its decision. So what do you all think? Is a bigger Verizon Wireless necessarily better for consumers? Chime in and let your opinion be known.

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Wondering what your shopping list might look like this holiday season? One of our AT&T ninjas got his hands on an internal control document outlining new release between now and the holidays so if AT&T is your carrier of choice, here’s what Big Blue has in store for you between now and the holidays:

• Pantech Matrix: $80 after MIR
• Samsung Propel:$80 after MIR
• AT&T Quickfire: $100 after MIR
• Samsung Eternity: $150 after MIR
• Samsung EPIX: $200 after MIR
• LG Incite: $200 after MIR
• HTC Fuze: $300 after MIR

Last but certainly not least, our ninja did in fact report that the Bold is on the list – with no pricing specified of course. At the very least, this may put the Bold on store shelves by the time the holiday shopping season starts, though we expect that it’ll drop sooner rather than later. Then again, as much as it has been delayed thus far AT&T may just be holding the spot without any real indication that it will be ready in time. Fingers = crossed.

Alltel customers who prefer music phones to smartphones have another phone to drool over starting Thursday as Alltel has officially added the LG Rhythm to its repertoire. The aptly named music phone incorporates Digital Signal Processing as well as a graphic equalizer professionally tweaked by audiophile extraordinaire Mark Levinson. Whether you prefer a public or a private performance, the Rhythm has you covered with both an internal FM transmitter and a 3.5 mm stereo headset with a microphone that can toggle easily between music and phone calls. That’s not all for you music folks, LG included a mechanical wheel with a center touchscreen and a dedicated music hot key.  Other non-music features of the phone include:

• 2-inch QVGA display
• 1.3 megapixel camera with zoom and camcorder
• Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities
• microSD supporting up to 16 GB

The LG Rhythm sports a white or black coat of paint and is available both online and in stores for $119.99
after $50 mail-in-rebate and a two-year service agreement.

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The results of the recent J.D. Power and Associates wireless industry survey are in, and things could look a bit…better for AT&T. The carrier came in dead last in 4 out of 6 regional categories, and never rose above a 3-out-of-5 rating in any one race. Worse still, the survey includes results culled between February and June, which means that none of the recent iPhone 3G woes have been factored in. Verizon came in first, (as we’ve pointed out) followed by Alltel, with Sprint and U.S. Cellular coming in a tied 3rd and T-Mobile securing a 4th place finish. Beyond AT&T’s abysmal performance, this clearly indicates that, at least when it comes to call quality, CDMA still reigns supreme. Perhaps this should serve as a wake-up call to the GSM giants to shore up their networks and provide a real increase in call quality and coverage. How’s that sound?

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Sure, you probably want to put Chad and his wizard friend through a wall just like us, but it’s hard to deny that Alltel has a pretty solid wireless offering. Its My Circle calling feature in fact is likely one of the most attractive plan enhancements on the market here in the US. Now Alltel has upped the ante with the addition of My Circle messaging packs that can be added to any My Circle plan. My Circle messaging is indeed exactly what you would imagine is; unlimited SMS and MMS messaging to anyone in your circle. There are two flavors of My Circle messaging packs available. The first is $7.99 and includes an additional 400 SMS / MMS per month for people outside of your Circle and the second is $12.99 while includes 1,000 SMS / MMS. Beyond these new additions, Alltel still offers unlimited messaging and mobile web for $20 per month. Chief Marketing Officer Frank O’Mara’s snippet:

Alltel’s ‘My Circle’ provides customers the ultimate in choice and value by giving them the ability to call or text any five, 10 or 20 numbers. Whether talking or texting, our new “My Circle” message packs provide customers the most cost-effective plans for staying in touch with friends, families and business associates.

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If you’re an Verizon Alltel customer with a longing for free Wi-Fi, your life just got a bit easier. The carrier has announced a partnership with Wireless Internet provider Alltel to bring Boingo Hotspot access to wireless customers. For $69.98/month Alltel customers can experience all-they-can-eat data on their wireless handsets in addition to unlimited Boingo Hotspot browsing by subscribing to the new Internet Anywhere Bundle. Sure, it’s not the cheapest solution in the world, but integrated services are all the rage these days, so you can’t blame ‘em for throwing their hat into the ring. The service is available immediately, so anyone looking to take advantage should hit the jump with the quickness. 

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