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Alltel

Alltel

Alltel is the fifth-largest carrier in the United States.

Editor's note: Because evaluating wireless coverage requires experience with the network in a wide variety of physical locations, CNET does not rate wireless carriers. We can, however, tell you everything you need to know about the major carriers. We invite your feedback and ratings in our user opinions section--the more input we get from around the U.S., the better our users can evaluate coverage at a national level.

The largest of the regional carriers, Alltel covers 12.2 million customers in 35 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., its native CDMA coverage is concentrated in the Southeast, the Midwest, and the Southwest. Outside of its home area, it has roaming agreements with coverage from Verizon Wireless and Sprint. On the device side, it offers a decent selection of handsets and smart phones that include such features as EV-DO compatibility and push-to-talk support. Alltel's Axcess data and entertainment service offers a variety of multimedia and GPS applications including video, PC-to-phone music transfers, and XM Radio.

Things you should know:

  • This carrier offers an unlimited calling plan.
  • As a CDMA carrier, international coverage is limited.
  • Alltel's My Circle gives you unlimited calling minutes to any 20 numbers on any network, even landlines.
  • Offers both regional and national plans, unlimited messaging packages and a plan that includes Canada and Mexico.
  • Carries mostly LG, Motorola, Samsung, and Kyocera handsets and BlackBerry and Treo smart phones.
  • Roaming outside Alltel's native coverage area may cost extra depending on your service plan. However, the company's EV-DO network is accessible in most urban areas on laptops with an Alltel data card.
  • Its Celltop application offers an innovative and easy-to-use cell phone interface. Also, its Voice2TXT will convert your voice mails into text messages.
  • Live Verizon Wireless uses BREW instead of Java for gaming and other applications, which can limit the number of choices available to consumers.

Fast facts:

  AT&T T-Mobile Sprint Nextel Verizon Wireless
Coverage map AT&T coverage map T-Mobile coverage map Sprint Nextel coverage map Verizon Wireless coverage map
Technology GSM; GPRS; EDGE GSM; GPRS: EDGE CDMA; 1xRTT; iDEN CDMA; 1xRTT
3G network Yes, UMTS, EV-DO No (coming in 2007) Yes, EV-DO Yes, EV-DO
Data plans Yes Yes Yes Yes
Streaming video network Yes, AT&T Video No Yes, Sprint Power Vision Yes, Verizon V Cast
Music download service Yes, AT&T Music No Yes, Sprint Music Store Yes, V Cast Wireless Music
Push-to-Talk Available, depending on phone model No Available, depending on phone model Available, depending on phone model
Analog roaming No No Yes Yes
Prepay plans Yes Yes No Yes
Family plans Yes Yes Yes Yes


  U.S. Cellular Alltel MetroPCS
Coverage map U.S. Cellular coverage map Alltel coverage map MetroPCS coverage map
Technology CDMA; 1xRTT CDMA; 1xRTT CDMA; 1xRTT
3G network No Yes, EV-DO No
Data plans Yes Yes No
Streaming video network No Yes No
Music download service No No No
Push-to-Talk Available, depending on phone model Available, depending on phone model No
Analog roaming Yes Yes Yes
Prepay plans Yes Yes No
Family plans Yes Yes No

Buying choices

for Alltel from online stores:
Please see CNET's Cell phone plan finder to purchase a phone with Alltel service.
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