Alltel To Buy Western Wireless

I apologize for sounding dumb(?)

But what exactly makes a carrier number 1? Take Cingular for example, because you noted them as number one? Dont get me wrong im not going against what you're saying at all. Are you basing the list on number of customers? If not, what may I ask? Thank you.

Art

number customers

Good question. Unfortunately, no, I don't know.

Isn't Alltel CDMA ? and AT&T(cingular) GSM ?

Yes. They will need to migrate technologies. But the spectrum, tower sites, and antennas are key, plus the customers.

Having to migrate the tech is still worthwhile.

PhoenixAshes,
ALLTEL should close on the deal late Feb to early March.
The current rate plans and equip should stay in place for a while.
ALLTEL will overlay the market (3-6 months) with CDMA and migrate legacy customers over as contracts expire. New customers will be on CDMA of course. (probably FREE roam on another CDMA carrier until overlay is complete).
The customers will probably have the option of accepting a FREE basic CDMA phone or upgrade $$ a another.

PhoenixAshes said:
hey, rich. you seem to be a good insider. do you have any idea when alltel will be taking over att's oklahoma city market it purchased from cingular? my brothers are all on att and want to know if they should switch to cingular or wait for alltel to take over. thanks.

To answer this question, anyone can go to whatever carrier there little heart desires! There are consequences to these actions for someone from a divested AT&T market, they can port there number to cingular but its treated like a regular port out, and contract will stand!