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What Kind of Phones Will Verizon Use Now? Alltel or Verizon
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With the merger of Alltel and Verizon, I’m wondering which phones customers will be able to use on the Verizon/Alltel network. In the past, Alltel didn’t lock down their phones as much as Verizon. You can access all of the nice features without hacking them. Verizon on the other hand, likes to make you pay for their lousy EVDO network if you want to use the advanced features. Wifi? No way!
No doubt, Verizon will continue use their locked down phones because their goal is to give their customers less options. Most of their customers are completely unaware of the options they could have with other carriers. Hopefully the iPhone and its many clones will change all of that.
5 Comments
leftystrat
June 13th, 2008
at 11:44am
When there’s a large business involved, there’s really only one direction things are going to go: down.
Within the constraints of what Verizon offers, however, I can’t complain. I’ve had a Treo 700p with them for about three years and nary an issue.
If I were to use it as a modem, they’d want a monthly tethering charge though…..
teddgcm
June 13th, 2008
at 5:59pm
If they do it like AT&T/Cingular did, the AllTel phones will be “grandfathered” in. Once the AllTel contract is up for each customer, if they want to upgrade, they will be required to get Verizon equipment and a Verizon plan. Eventually the AllTel name will be phased out. We still have a few customers on old AT&T plans with old AT&T Wireless devices. If their phones break or they want to upgrade they will have to come over to the AT&T Mobility phones and plans.
bill
March 30th, 2009
at 12:32pm
I was wondering can alltel customers use a verizon phone without switching plans
bree
August 22nd, 2009
at 11:45am
I am an Alltel customer, in the midst of this merger, I am told by verizon to go to alltel to buy phones. Will the Alltel phone work when Verizon takes over? I have no contract with either.
So confusing! My service now is “throw the phone in the trash” mode.
oztech
August 23rd, 2009
at 11:36pm
@bree - It depends on where you live. As far as my understanding, in areas where Verizon is a huge provider, they will have to give up the Alltel stores to another carrier. In other areas you will have to switch to Verizon stuff wholeheartedly.