Alltel

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At a Glance

Average user rating: 6.4 Good
The bottom line: Alltel is the fifth-largest carrier in the United States.

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Reviewed by: Kent German

Reviewed on 6/7/07

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:

Subscribers: 12.2 million
Coverage: Alltel's native coverage is limited to 35 states. As with all carriers, reception will vary due to location.
Technology: CDMA; 1xRTT; EV-DO
3G network: Yes
Streaming video service: Yes
Music download service: No
Push-to-talk: Yes
Analog roaming: Yes
Prepay plans: Yes
Family plans: Yes

	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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