Alltel Wireless users can now browse thousands of Web videos and watch them via the phones with the new mywaves mobile video service. Available for $3.99 per month this newly launched service lets customers easily download the app, which allows for users to browse through various genres including comedy, sports, health, business, music, technology and more. Alltel users can also choose for a text message alert when new clips are available on channels of their choice. “Our customers now have more video viewing options than ever before,” said Scott Moody, director of data services for Alltel Wireless. “mywaves gives us the ability to deliver thousands of videos directly to our customers, allowing them to further customize their wireless experience.” Currently running on QUALCOMM’s BREW solution, mywaves is available on select Alltel phones including the LG AX8600; Motorola RAZR V3m, V3c, KRZR K1m and e815, and the Samsung u520, and the application will be compatible Alltel phones in the future. [Alltel] → Read More
You’ll be able to watch your favorite content from NBC Universal on mobile handsets from Alltel Wireless. mocoNews is reporting that NBC Unversal (NBCU) has inked a deal with Alltel, and this will allow the carrier to distribute content from NBCU’s 11 video on-demand channels, along with ringtones, ringbacks and wallpapers via Alltel’s Access data service. Various short-form video content will be included from Access Hollywood, Telemundo, NBC News, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Brave, Sci Fi Channel and USA Networks, along with original from dotcomedy.com, and even a bit of long-from content from Friday Night Lights. In the case of the latter no one seems to be tuning in to the show on TV, so why not give it away to Alltel customers! NBC Universal Signs Content Deal With Alltel [mocoNews.net] → Read More
With the Alltel acquisition by Texas Pacific Group for $26.3 billion underway, execs of the regional cellular carrier are reportedly taking their $2 billion payout and go home, to their very nice homes, according to Service Employees International Union found at behindthebuyouts.org. A release issued by the watchdog group for responsible corporate governance practices says five of the company insiders and executives stand to walk away with a minimum of $31 million, and as much as $281 million if they leave the company when the deal closes due to “change of control” clauses in their contracts. The Alltel board members are in line to collect $1.975 billion for their 8 percent stake in the company. Concerned shareholders are questioning whether the board and top-level executives acted in the shareholders’ best interests, and are filing suit with claims the deal was “grossly unfair” to shareholders, and the acquisition price was “far below the maximum value.” Behindthebuyouts Alltelrevealed → Read More
E-mail on the go is no longer limited to those who shell out for a Blackberry, Treo, or Windows Mobile device. Canadian company OnceanLake Commerce, just debuted memo, a mobile e-mail service compatible with any Web-enabled handset that can receive text messages. Set up the service to watch your e-mail, and it will send a text message to your phone with a link to a an inbox Web page. Meemo costs $6.99 per month, and works with Alltel, AT&T (formerly Cingular), Sprint/Nextel, Verizon Wireless, though some other wireless networks will also work. While memo hypes the service as being a cost-effective solution compared to e-mail capable devices like the Blackberry, you are best to add in the cost of a data and text plan or you’ll be spending 10 cents for each spam message that reaches your inbox. meemo → Read More
With the launch of Linkin Park’s mobile storefront, Motricity, a provider of mobile content services and solutions, announced this week that it now powers more than 400 mobile storefronts, including nine of the top 10 sites. “Mobile is now a standard component for album releases,” said Jud Bowman, CTO and general manager of media and entertainment for Motricity. “Inserts in CD packaging, radio & TV advertisements – all of your traditional marketing channels – now have a mobile element to them. Fans expect that the hottest artists in the industry will have a mobile component.” Motricity’s partners include MTV, BET, CBS, Turner, Cingular (or should we say AT&T), Alltel, Sprint Nextel and Palm among others. The company recently acquired GoldPocket Wireless to extend Fuel, their mobile content delivery platform. Motricity → Read More
Will mid-sized rural carriers be on the block for sale? That’s the speculation after the $27.5 billion acquisition of Alltel Corp., the fifth largest wireless provider in the United States, by two private equity firms. Telecommunications Industry News is reporting that this buyout is giving rise to speculation that other regional mobile carriers could be bought up as well. The article suggests that a buyout of a nationwide carrier, such as Sprint Nextel is far less likely but remains a possibility as well. In the meantime the industry looks to be poised for a buyer’s market, with a variety of mid-sized carriers, including Dobson Communications and Rural Cellular Corp, among potential candidates for future private equity purchases. Alltel Buyout Could Trigger Additional Wireless Acquisitions [Telecommunications Industry News] → Read More
This is kinda neat if you find yourself often getting phone calls from parties unknown. Alltel is rolling out with City ID, an enhanced Caller ID service that attempts to identify all those pesky “unknown” phone numbers by city and state. That way, if you get a call from Some Dude and the number doesn’t show up, the phone will display the city and state of the incoming call. The service will debut on the LG AX275 and will eventually cost $1.99 per month. I want to know what the limitations are. Will my prison guard uncle be able to make secret calls anymore? They make for the best pranks. Just ask John. City ID [Alltel] → Read More
Alltel, you know, that other cellphone carrier, is now proactively positioning itself for a sale, according to Phone Scoop’s Ouija board. Three private equity groups are looking at snapping up the small-but-important carrier. No larger networks have shown interest, which isn’t that odd. As the Big Four (Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) have coast-to-coast networks of their own, buying up an overlapping provider doesn’t make any sense. Also, Alltel’s subscriber base really isn’t big enough to justify a merging acquisition. This is all likely good news for Alltel’s subscribers. The carrier is known for innovative plans and features, usually introducing pricing and services months before the larger groups. T-Mobile’s “Fave Five” is a good example. Alltel had a calling ring-style unlimited group months before. If the bidding doesn’t get to hot, expect to hear some soft of announcement within the next month and a half, but don’t expect any major ripples in the cellphone world. Alltel begins serious discussions for a sale [Phone Scoop] → Read More
About this time last year, I took a look at the Samsung Trace and went “Damn, this is a thin phone. I’m probably going to break it in the next two weeks.” I didn’t, but the new Samsung Wafer from Alltel Wireless is quite the skinny puppy as well. Aside from having a thin body and being called the SCH-R510 when it’s feeling grouchy, this phone comes loaded with some sweet features. Inside you’ll find a 1.3-megapixel camera, that wacky Alltel desktop widget UI, XM Radio, Axcess TV, and My Circle features. Seems like one of the better Samsung phones I’ve seen in the past few months. How could it get any better between the XM Radio and the thin-design? Try a $49 price-tag after a $50 mail-in rebate. Booh yah! Alltel Gets Super Thin Samsung Wafer With XM Radio Mobile [Gizmodo] → Read More
Will Verizon really gobble up Alltel and become the nation’s largest mobile phone provider? The Wall Street Journal reported a possible merger two years ago, but that obviously never happened. We know T-Mobile and Cingular run on the GSM network so that rules them out and Sprint is busy fussing with the integration of Nextel’s network. That leaves Verizon as the only viable candidate, but Alltel’s reported price tag of $30 billion might sway Verizon from going for the whole enchilada. → Read More
Verizon is looking to topple Cingular as the nation’s largest carrier and Alltel is standing in their way. So what does a big bully do in this situation? They buy ‘em out. Word on the street is that Verizon is putting in a bid to swoop up Alltel and beat out Cingular/AT&T by about 10 million users. If the FCC gives them the thumbs up we’ll have to hear that annoying catchphrase over and over and over again. Verizon Beats Out Cingular [Mobile Mag] → Read More
Okay, the Celltop interface makes it easier to get at just about every bit of information on your cell phone, but the Pro Rodeo circuit stuff is, um, different. There’s no reason you should have to wade through never-ending menus on your mobile to get to your call log, text inbox, weather or sport scores, including football, baseball and yes, Pro Rodeo standings, so Alltel solved the problem for their users with Celltop. Celltop lets you customize modular cells (just like widgets on a computer) on your phone so you can find info fast, which is important when you’re dealing with a small screen. The technology is built on Qualcomm’s BREW uiOne platform on select Alltel Wireless handsets and on all of their new phones by late-2007. There are currently 10 cells available and are free to use. New modules will be available for download too, and the software is open to the developer community, so all manner of options should be possible. Alltel Celltop [product site] → Read More
Well that didn’t take long. After Verizon had the KRZR K1m for less than a week, Alltel has announced it would be carrying the soon-to-be-ubiquitous phone. No spec changes or anything like that, but if you’re on Alltel, you can now be cool—along with other millions of people who get the phone. Alltel → Read More
Heh heh, 420. Oh sorry, the Samsung Nimbus slider phone has made its way over to Alltell, making it one of the only sliders on that network – if not the only one, since we couldn’t find any others on their website. The features, however, aren’t as impressive as its looks. The phone only has a VGA camera, Bluetooth, speakerphone capabilities and a Java BREW 3.1.4 client. It does have XM Radio access though. But the good news is, if you sign a two-year contract you can get two of these phones for $50 after $30 mail-in rebate. A good deal for a family plan if you’re not into a phone that can substitute for your laptop on the go. Press Release [Business Wire → Read More
Alltel just announced a new service that will deliver XM Satellite Radio programming to phones on their network. Developed by MobiTV, the feature will allow users unlimited access to select XM radio channels for $7.99 a month. “Having America’s largest wireless network, partner with America’s largest satellite radio provider was a natural fit, and we know our customers will enjoy XM’s stellar line-up of programming,” said Frank O’Mara, executive VP of sales and marketing for Alltel. While we’re not certain that Alltel is America’s largest wireless network, the service is certain to draw considerable attention from customers. → Read More
