Looks like Alltel’s finally beginning to rub off on Verizon, with the latter adopting one of the finest features of their new found property. Earlier this morning, Verizon announced that they’d be taking on Alltel’s My Circle option, but under the name “Friends and Family”.

The new plan option will make its way to Verizon customers on February 15th, allowing any VZW customer to pick 5 or 10 numbers for their calling group. If you’ve got a single line (with 900 or more anytime minutes), you get 5 friends; if you’ve got a family share plan, you get 10. Not a bad deal, Verizon.

FRIENDS & FAMILY WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY CUSTOMERS VIEW THEIR VERIZON WIRELESS CALLING PLANS

New Feature Lets Customers Customize Plans to Include Numbers They Call Most

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today announced Friends & Family®, a new feature that gives customers total control over how they use their plan minutes. Beginning Sunday, Feb. 15, Verizon Wireless customers will be able to identify five or 10 numbers as a Friends & Family calling group. Minutes used when placing or receiving calls to anyone in the calling group will not count against customers’ plan minutes. Customers can even include landline numbers or wireless numbers of those who haven’t yet switched to the nation’s largest, most reliable network. Friends & Family gives customers a flexible way to control their wireless spending and still talk to those individuals who are most significant to them. Changes to the Friends & Family directory are quick, easy and free.

“This is a milestone in the industry,” said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “For the first time our customers can take control over their personal calling plans, build it to suit their needs yet still reap the benefits of being on the nation’s most reliable wireless network. And since there are no long distance charges, those numbers can be anywhere in the country. There is no charge to sign up and no charge, ever, to make changes to their Friends & Family calling directory.”

Customers wanting to take advantage of Friends & Family must have a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Single Line plan with 900 or more Anytime Minutes or a Nationwide Family SharePlan® with 1,400 or more Anytime Minutes. Customers on an eligible Nationwide Single Line plan, which starts at $59.99 monthly access, may select up to five numbers to add to their Friends & Family directory. Customers on an eligible Nationwide Family SharePlan, starting at $89.99 monthly access for the first two lines, may select up to 10 numbers for their Friends & Family directory to share among account users. Nationwide plans include Unlimited Night & Weekend minutes, no domestic roaming or long distance charges, and access to Mobile Web. Verizon Wireless customers also enjoy unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling with America’s largest calling family of more than 80 million customers.

Existing Verizon Wireless customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon to sign up for My Verizon and check their eligibility for Friends & Family. Once a customer makes a change to his or her Friends & Family numbers, the new numbers will be effective the following day. Verizon Wireless expects to offer Friends & Family lines for business customers later this quarter. With this offering, business customers will have the convenience of managing their Friends & Family through the My Business online account management tool.

For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.

The FCC’s stamp of approval doesn’t come without strings attached, however. Amongst other conditions, Verizon will be required to maintain any roaming agreements Alltel has with other carriers for at least four years.

Read more at MobileCrunch >>

Oh, and you also get a big intangible with any Alltel product — one of the dreamiest spokespeople in the wireless industry; that Chad guy. How in the hell does he do that with his hair? It’s beautiful.

Full release after the jump…

Alltel Wireless Lets Customers Move to Their Own Beat with the LG Rhythm

Alltel launches next generation Bluetooth™ music phone

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. & SAN DIEGO -Alltel Wireless, America’s largest network, and LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today that the LG Rhythm is available in Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. The LG Rhythm was created with music enthusiasts in mind and is equipped with one of the most advanced music systems available.

Sleek and stylish, the LG Rhythm offers customers a premium music player with Digital Signal Processing as well as a graphic equalizer professionally tuned by Mr. Mark Levinson. The phone also includes an FM transmitter that easily streams songs to a car stereo or other receiver from up to 10 feet away. The LG Rhythm also comes with a 3.5 mm stereo headset with a microphone that allows users to easily toggle between music and incoming calls.

“We recognize our customers are seeking a multifunctional handset that is both fun to use and enhances their mobile lifestyle,” said Brian Ullem, vice president of device strategy for Alltel Wireless. “With the introduction of the LG Rhythm, Alltel remains dedicated to providing customers with entertainment-focused handsets and a world class wireless experience.”

“The LG Rhythm is a great option for consumers who are looking for a multi-faceted music phone with premium sound,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy & marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “There is no question that consumers crave more out of their mobile devices and LG continues to bring the features and functions that truly enhance their mobile lives.”

Possessing the functionality of a wireless phone with the entertainment options of an MP3 player, the LG Rhythm is an ideal handset for both work and play. With 120 MB of internal memory, users can store their favorite songs or video files and conveniently access the files using a designated music hot key and 1-inch circular touchscreen. Other features include a 2-inch main LCD display screen, a 1.3 megapixel camera with zoom and camcorder, Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities, background music mode and a microSD external memory port supporting up to 16 GB.

Alltel Wireless is offering the LG Rhythm in black or white for $119.99 after $50 mail-in-rebate and a two-year service agreement. Beginning today, the LG Rhythm is available in Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com.

Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and flexibility to the customer’s wireless experience with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, giving customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2008

VERIZON WIRELESS TO ACQUIRE ALLTEL; WILL EXPAND NATION’S MOST RELIABLE WIRELESS NETWORK

Verizon Wireless has entered into an agreement with Alltel Corporation and Atlantis Holdings LLC, an affiliate of private investment firm TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, to acquire Alltel Corporation in a cash merger. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD).

Under the terms of the agreement, Verizon Wireless will acquire the equity of Alltel for approximately $5.9 billion. Based on Alltel’s projected net debt at closing of $22.2 billion, the aggregate value of the transaction is $28.1 billion.

The parties are targeting completion of the merger by the end of the year, subject to obtaining regulatory approvals.

Once this transaction closes, customers of both companies will have access to an expanded range of products and services, including a premier lineup of basic and advanced devices and an expanded IN Network calling community. Alltel customers also will benefit from advanced services including over-the-air downloadable music from a three-million-song library, and a network that is nationwide, for a uniform coast-to-coast experience. They also will be able to take advantage of industry-leading consumer policies, including Test Drive and Worry Free Guarantee®.

“This move will create an enhanced platform of network coverage, spectrum and customer care to better serve the growing needs of both Alltel and Verizon Wireless customers for reliable basic and advanced broadband wireless services,” said Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless president and chief executive officer.

Alltel serves more than 13 million customers in markets in 34 states. This includes 57 primarily rural markets that Verizon Wireless does not serve. The transaction puts the Alltel markets and customers on a path to advanced 4th generation services as Verizon Wireless deploys LTE technology throughout its network over the next several years. Alltel’s customers also will reap the benefits of Verizon Wireless’ Open Development initiative, which welcomes third-party devices and services to use the Verizon Wireless network.

Verizon Communications, the owner of the majority stake in Verizon Wireless, expects that the transaction will be immediately accretive, excluding transaction and integration costs. “This is a perfect fit, with Alltel’s high-value post-paid customer base, its solid financials, our common network technology, and significant, readily attainable synergies,” said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon chief executive officer and chairman of the Verizon board. “Verizon Wireless’ acquisition of Alltel clearly provides opportunities for enhanced value for Verizon shareholders.”

Alltel President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Ford will continue in his current position as head of Alltel until the merger is completed.

“Both Alltel and Verizon Wireless have long track records of delivering a high-quality customer experience in the marketplace,” Ford said. “The combination of our two companies will continue and improve upon that heritage as, together, we can more quickly deliver an expanded range of innovative products and services to our customers.”

Verizon Wireless expects to realize synergies with a net present value, after integration costs, of more than $9 billion driven by reduced capital and operating expense savings. Synergies are expected to generate incremental cost savings of $1 billion in the second year after closing.

Alltel and Verizon Wireless both use a common network technology, which provides advantages of a seamless transition for Alltel customers, ease in integrating the two companies’ networks, and scale efficiencies in operating the larger integrated network.

Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Verizon Wireless on this transaction and is providing bridge financing. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal advisor to Verizon Wireless.

Citibank, Goldman Sachs and RBS advised the sellers on the transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz acted as legal advisor to Alltel, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP acted as legal advisors to the sellers.

Alltel, the little carrier that could, is in talks with Verizon to merge this year. Verizon is expected to pay eight times Alltel’s EBITDA (”Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization”). How much that is we do not know but it’s definitely more than fifty dollars.

UPDATE – The deal could be about $27 billion, according to Reuters.

No love for CDMA. Alltel, which this map shows as being popular in what us latte-drinking, east coast elite call “fly-over country,” has committed its 4G future to LTE, a GSM technology. While the transition is still a ways away—like, three to five years away—the corp’s COO cautioned that “you should not expect to see us talking about 4G anytime at least in 2008.”

Basically, Alltel, one day, will move toward LTE. Just don’t ask about it for a few years.

The best is that we’re already talking about 4G when 3G hasn’t even rolled out yet for most folks.

I’m guessing that the “licorice” version is a little more subdued, although Motorola’s press release didn’t indicate whether it was red or black licorice. If it’s blazingly bright red in color, you’re going to have to decide which is the lesser of two evils for you. Luckily, it’s black licorice. Trust me.

The Q9c for the Alltel network will be available sometime this summer for $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement.

Look for a full review next week.

This morning Alltel announced the addition of the clamshell Samsung Muse to their lineup. The music-centric Muse has a dedicated music key and is a shade of midnight blue. Other features include an MP3 player with 64MB of internal memory, 2-megapixel camera (video), GPS, stereo Bluetooth and access to Alltel’s XM mobile radio service, the Muse doesn’t sound all that bad. It goes for a mere $90.

Alltel

MicroSD, 3G, and a 2-Megapixel camera round out this attractive phone, and it should be out in about a month.

Alltel to hop touchscreen bandwagon with LG [Electronista]

I have met only one person in my life who uses Alltel and she was from the deep dark South, so maybe this post is for her.

Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 at the weekend; he was alarmingly gracious when I saw him on SportsCenter. (Larry the Cable Guy insists that the race is pretty much sacred in the South. I trust his opinion.) How does this tie into Alltel?

Alletl is Newman’s main sponsor. What else could it have been?

In celebration of Newman’s win—it was the 50th anniversary of the race—Alltell will give 500 bonus minutes to new subscribers and current subscribers who add an additional line to their account. Alltel’s also giving away a Samsung Hue with the purchase of one—buy one, get one free. Easy enough.

Alltel

For $3.99 per month (or $9.99 for three months), you can stream and simultaneously synchronize music files on your computer to your phone. There’s a piece of software that you install on your computer that manages the connection to your phone and you use the mSpot Remix mobile client on the phone itself.

According to the mSpot website, “A consumer hits ‘play’ from the mSpot Remix mobile client, and Remix immediately starts streaming songs while it downloads the track – and the rest of the playlist – in the background. Remix then saves the songs to the phone’s memory card.”

Seems simple enough and worth the $3 to $4 per month if you’re going to use your phone to listen to a bunch of music although I wish the nice PR lady who sent this over hadn’t started the e-mail by saying, “Is the iPod doomed?” I’d say this service isn’t dooming anything quite yet. The auto-synchronization feature is nice, though.

The ROKR is currently the only Alltel phone supported, although there are plans to launch the service on other phones as they’re released throughout the year.

Alltel’s Over-the-Air Music Syncing Service to Be Powered by mSpot [Marketwire]

The service is $3.99 per month and, oh yeah, why should you care? Well, mywaves has more than 100,000 channels with more than 1 million users adding daily to the selection. And while you can access videos if you’re on Cingular, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and various Canadian carriers, the BREW experience was, let’s say, less than video-rific. So, mywaves developed a better BREW app for Alltel customers to use.

There’s a mishmash of videos available for all mywaves users, regardless of platform. Some are uploaded by regular users and others come from Comedy Central, CNN, MTV, VH1 and so forth. Also, should you choose to do so, mywaves lets you embed a player on your MySpace page (or any other Website, for that matter) to display your own customized video channels.

Alltel Wireless First Carrier to Launch ‘mywaves’ Mobile Video Service [Yahoo! Finance]

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]

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]

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]

“Verizon is simply not a willing buyer,” he said. “And Sprint is in no position to be making a move of this size right now, so it’s really up to private equity.”

With the impending FCC auction of the 700MHz spectrum this year, Nelson says:

“They can build their own network for a lot less than $30 billion.”

I’m not much of a betting man, but I don’t see this happening. It didn’t happen two years ago, so what makes it different now?

Is Verizon Wireless really looking to buy Alltel? [CNET]

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]