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Help! I need to replace Alltel phone w/out changing Alltel plan

runag

Nov 7, 2010, 6:13 PM
I currently have a Motorola RAZR V3a on an Alltel plan with talk and text only (the contract expired Oct 2009). The phone is on borrowed time and replacing it w/another V3a would probably be futile. I also don't think that reconditioned or refurbished phones would be wise either simply because they're not new.

Can anyone advise me to the best talk and text Alltel phone? I will probably buy the phone outright (no contract). I have tried looking into the phones but am getting frustrated.
Phone Scoop rated:
4.2 for the LG Chocolate Touch / 8575 Touch
4.1 for the LG Helix UX-310 / AX-310
4 for the Samsung Messager Touch R630 / R631

Please, someone help me with this decision.
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epik

Nov 7, 2010, 6:44 PM
Who do you pay for service, Alltel, or Verizon? If you're paying Alltel, then you're a customer of Allied Wireless. If you're on Verizon, you might have trouble with some of the models you're looking for. I would imagine you're with Verizon now.

If you find one of the models you're looking for, it may have to be models made for Alltel before the Verizon acquisition (old stock or used). If you buy something today that branded for Alltel (brand new, new stock), I don't think the ESN will be valid on Verizon, because Verizon and Alltel are now two different companies.

Also, you might have trouble finding someone on this forum familiar with these phones. The Chocolate Touch is offered by Verizon, but the other two were not. The Choco...
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runag

Nov 7, 2010, 8:22 PM
Verizon took over my account (10-2009) but it's still the Alltel plan. I do not have data.

I thought the LG Chocolate Touch was one of the 'feature' or 'basic' phones that didn't require a data plan. I will take the Chocolate Touch off my list then.

I had thought about the Samsung Gusto but Best Buy said they couldn't activate for my plan (strictly a Verizon phone I guess).

Any advice on where to look for advice? I can get a refurbished RAZR V3a for $60 but that's depressing to have to pay that much for something that's not brand new. Ggrrr...
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epik

Nov 7, 2010, 9:50 PM
Yes, the Chocolate Touch is a 3G Multimedia Phone, and even as time goes by, that phone will always require a data plan, even used.

Not sure why Best Buy couldn't do it. I know that indirect agents in my area have always had issues working with former Alltel accounts (they call my store for help). A Verizon Wireless corporate store would probably have little trouble activating that phone on your account, as we activated several of the Gusto's predecessor on Alltel accounts.

You're going to be more and more hard-pressed to find an Alltel-branded phone from before the merger. Soon, a refurb may be your only choice.

I did a little looksee around the web for Alltel phones. Most of what I found seem to be for the new Alltel owned by ...
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acculabs

Nov 8, 2010, 7:31 AM
FWIW....... Back in May, Verizon was running a special. You could put any Verizon phone on your existing Alltel plan by agreeing to extend the contract. As a former Alltel custommer, I had an existing Alltel plan. So I grabbed the special and got a HTC Incredible.

I know that Verizon will tell you that they can not put a Verizon phone on an Alltel plan, but obviously, this is not true.
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epik

Nov 8, 2010, 10:55 AM
No, I work for Verizon and can put any phone on an Alltel plan. Sometimes with a small change, but still the Alltel plans. I was under the impression that the original poster was trying to avoid changing the plan as well as changing his monthly cost.

However, indirect agents don't seem to have the ability to do anything with the converted Alltel accounts. Unless something has changed recently. I get requests for help with Alltel accounts from indirect agents all the time. Or, they just send them to my store (or another corporate store in the area) because they can't do anything. Not sure why this is. Still, I might get one or two Alltel Verizon customers in a month. They all must be getting help from somewhere.
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runag

Nov 8, 2010, 2:03 PM
@acculabs--back in May I was not aware of that and unfortunately, was in no financial position to doing about it anyway.

@epik--You are correct that I don't want to change my plan, thus adding to my cost. Please let me know what else you find as I'm very interested and appreciative of your help.

I live in Springfield, MO. I will try visiting a Verizon Wireless store here but I'm not optimistic. I would love to have unlimited talk & text w/out paying more ($60/mo) but I don't think that's realisic either.
I looked at Straight Talk but they're smartphone selection is not good. The E71 rated much higher than the Surge (both Nokias) but I haven't used a 'bar' phone in over 3yrs, not sure I could get used to the generic BB and having t...
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epik

Nov 8, 2010, 3:21 PM
Definitely need to see what the Verizon corporate store can do. If you walked into my store (about 1500 miles from you, unfortunately), we could go through the options together. Last time I had an Alltel Verizon line come in, if we switched to a phone like the Chocolate Touch, there were some cases where I was going to have to change something (plan or just a feature). But I've found that if you had a smartphone and stuck with a smartphone, there's usually no change in the plan, aside from a feature code that designates Blackberry over the others, and that's not a feature with a cost attached to it.
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OrionsVantage

Nov 8, 2010, 2:20 PM
I've never had any problems with Alltel plans and Verizon phones. I've only had one instance where the Alltel/Verizon difference mattered and that was with a $15 Unlimited data tethering plan that was offered by Alltel and not grandfathered in when i switched blackberries.
My guess is that as soon as a rep see's "Alltel Customer" in eRoes they kinda freak out and automatically tell the customer to go somewhere else.
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epik

Nov 8, 2010, 3:22 PM
Run away! Run away!
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runag

Nov 8, 2010, 3:36 PM
Thank you so much guys! You've been very helpful, especially you epik, thanks!!!

I will be heading to a Verizon store today or in sometime this week. Wish me good luck!

It's hard to beat 500 talk & 400 text for $58 but it's not in the budget to pay more for something possibly better.
Unlimited talk & text would be great or even unlimited talk, text & web but you sacrifice service for cost by switching to Straight Talk from what I've read on the internet. They are tempting though...
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OrionsVantage

Nov 8, 2010, 5:22 PM
Hrm....

On Verizon's current plan you could have 450 min and 500 txt (with unlimited verizon to verizon with both) for only $49.99 + tax a month.

Quick question, who do you work for?
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runag

Nov 8, 2010, 8:53 PM
@OrionsVantage--I noticed the plan you're talking about. Unfortunately, I'd lose the one friends/family number I get and I don't want to lose that, so I have to stay where I'm at plan wise. The alternative would be to have unlimitd talk & hopefully a decent text package or have unlimited talk & text. What say you?

The advice I've received so far has been great. I did stop by a Verizon store today to check out the feature phones (but it was a small store). I'll be stopping by one of the larger stores this week for actual assistance.
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epik

Nov 8, 2010, 9:06 PM
Again, be sure you're at a Verizon Corporate Store. Some are small, yes, but most should have at least twenty or more models on display.

The tell-tale indicator is the sign outside. If it's not corporate-owned, it will say Verizon and something else (another company name, or "authorized retailer," or something else). Sometimes the indication is on the sign above the door, sometimes it's on or next to the door. It's hard to say. The best indication is through Verizon's web site store locator. You can specify just corporate stores.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/storelocator/inde ... »

Just checking Springfield in the store locator, I found the following four corporate stores:

1645 W Republic ...
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runag

Nov 8, 2010, 10:07 PM
Thanks epik!!!

I checked out the W Republic Rd locale but wasn't impressed. I'll be checking one of the bigger stores in the next day or so. W Republic had very few phones, not just feature but small smartphone selection too.

The only way I'd be able to change my plan is if I had at least unlimited talk. My bf has AT&T (that's my one friends/family # that I use) but I like having my own cellphone plan which is why I'm not on his plan already.

We Alltel customers got a lucky break keeping our plans but the offset is not being able to replace the phone later (or so it's starting to seem).

Who knew replacing my cellphone w/out changing my plan would be so complicated?

I am not giving up...
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