Alltel Launches Its Own $99 Unlimited Plan

First of all, ask all of the carriers how many of the UNLIMITED CALLING plans they are selling. It's not a lot. T-Mobile reported more migrations DOWN to the Unlimited plan from plans like their 3,000 or 5,000 minutes plans than actual sales of the UNL plan. The point is that there are very few people who need UNLIMITED minutes. Sure, 450, 600, 900, 1000 isn't for everyone, but what if you had 1,000 minutes AND unlimited calls to any 10 people you wanted on OTHER networks? That is what Alltel is saying is the best value, and they are right.

With any of the companies now doing the unlimited (including Alltel), add a lines are either another $100 or $95/month. So for a husband/wife who need unlimited minutes, they'd be spending $200/month. OR, they could get on the MyCircle 2100 plan for $110/month (total) and have unlimited to 20 people (more than enough) and 2100 minutes to share with UNL N&W and UNL Alltel to Alltel calling.

Think of it from an even broader perspective. Probably more than half of wireless customers purchase plans of at least 3 or subscribers. 3 phones at unlimited minutes is $300/month with any of the companies! 3 phones at 6,000 minutes, UNL N&W, UNL All-All, and UNL to any 20 people the family wants is $220/month. That's $80/month, or $960/year.

For people who need more than 4,000 or 5,000 minutes AND are only needing a single line plan, the UNL calling plans are great. But for the 99% of the American public, that is simply more minutes than you need.

Alltel is wise to offer the unlimited plans from a marketing standpoint, and also because it WILL cater to 1% of the population. But for almost everyone else, their MyCircle plans are simply better.