AT&T Mobility accelerates Alltel market transitions

UPDATED: AT&T Mobility (T) readjusted its schedule to begin offering services in a number of markets it had acquired from Verizon Wireless (VZ) earlier this year.
The carrier said it was moving up the launch dates in markets in South Dakota North Dakota, Alabama, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Virginia from the originally announced “mid-2011” to “the end of 2010 or the beginning of 2011.”
AT&T Mobility closed on the acquisition of the properties in June as part of required divestures by Verizon Wireless following its purchase of Alltel Communications L.L.C.
AT&T Mobility noted that all Alltel customers that partake in the transition will receive a new AT&T Mobility-compatible handset at no cost. In addition, the carrier said the “vast majority” of customers will be able to keep their existing rate plans and none of the customers will be required to tack on any additional length to their current contracts.
The carrier did add that those customers interested in Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4 would be required to pay an upgrade charge as well as sign a new two-year contract on a compatible rate plan.
Customers looking to remain with AT&T Mobility are required to use new handsets as the carrier is migrating Alltel’s former CDMA network to GSM-based technology. Alltel had previously offered GSM roaming services in many of its markets, but those services were not commercially offered to its customers. Alltel customers that moved to Verizon Wireless were not required to change devices as both carriers used similar technology, though some were required to change rate plans.
The remaining Alltel assets divested by Verizon Wireless, but not acquired by AT&T Mobility, were picked up by Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. earlier this year for $223 million. Those assets included markets in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Idaho – and nearly 900,000 customers. ATN has recently re-established service using the Alltel brand name.