Alltel/AT&T divested markets

A

ABmommy

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Ok so here is the latest update I've heard. AT&T is planning on sending out letters in South Dakota in October. This letter will give you the choice of 3 different phones for free that are similar or slightly better than your current Alltel phone. Or you can choose to upgrade to a better phone for a "fee". No word on how much that will be whether it will be full price or not. Then the phone will be sent directly to you in the mail.

Also, people who are existing Alltel customers will be exclusively offered the iPhone before they are available in stores to make sure that any Alltel customers who want to switch to one will be able. Why they're doing this I'm not sure since you would think there would be enough iPhones available by now.

AT&T is hoping to have this market completed by January. I didn't ask if this applies to all markets or just the South Dakota market. This is coming from my friend who manages one of the Alltel stores in Aberdeen.
 
I have another friend on Verizon in the same area who got a letter that he had to switch. But he is going to get to stay on Verizon cause he argued that he needs the phone in areas where there is no ATT coverage and only Verizon works, Northeast MN.
 
Did ATT say he could stay with Verizon, and does he have that in writing? He is more than able to stay with Verizon. But I believe it will be a new contract with a new phone number. His number is now owned by ATT. If his contract is not up, I suspect he will owe ATT the ETF also.
 
My understanding is he can switch to Verizon with no ETF by waiting until he gets his new AT&T phone, porting his number out then, and returning the phone to AT&T. There's a 30 day get-out-of-jail-free window. You'd have to ask AT&T for details on this at the time...
 
AT&T talks about the 30 day window to terminate whatever remaining contract you have with your old provider in the FAQ page of the Alltel/AT&T merger. I would assume the same thing would apply for those moving from Verizon to AT&T.

Here is the pertinent part from the FAQ page:

"Q: What if I don't want to pick a new phone or use AT&T's service?
A: In order to ensure you do not have an interruption in service when it transitions to AT&T, we will provide you with a FREE phone or data device, comparable to what you have now with no additional contract commitment. If you do not select a FREE phone or data device, AT&T will send one to you. If, after your service has moved to AT&T, you still do not want the phone or data device and do not want to use AT&T's services, you will have 30 days to discontinue service with no early termination fees."

You can find the whole thing here:

http://www.att.com/mergers/alltel/frequently-asked-questions.jsp
 
That's what it sounds like, but you will have to be on a AT&T plan instead of grandfathering in your old Alltel Plan.

I did some price comparison between what Alltel charges me and what AT&T would charge me for a little "less" and it's quite an increase to goto a AT&T plan.

My plan with Alltel

Smartchoice 500+
500 anytime minutes
Unlimitted Data
Unlimitted Texting
15 My Circle (love this.. I use 1000 to 1,500 minutes a month on this)
Nights at 7PM

89.99 - 15% Affinity discount $76.49



Nearest Plan that AT&T Offers

Nation 450 w/Rollover
DataConnect 5GB with Wi-Fi Add-On
Messaging Unlimited

$119.99 - 18% Corp Sponsorship $101.99
 
When you get the letter to select a new phone is any phone available if you choose to upgrade instead of getting a free phone?

I would really like to get a Captivate.
 
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