Who feels like they're in limbo waiting for ATT?

[wyodog]

Those of us remaining Alltel customers waiting for ATT to convert us to their GSM network and equipment - does it feel like limbo? Just a vague welcome letter, but no specific dates. Questions hanging in the air like:

Should I renew my contract and upgrade my phone to a Bold 9650?

If I renew, will ATT honor my exact plan and fees, or will it be something "similar?"

If I renew and upgrade now, say to a 9650, what do I do with it when ATT sends me a 9700?

Should I renew just to lock in unlimited data at Alltel's much better rate?

How good/bad will reception & coverage be initially?

VZW's coverage is the best in my area, but are they worth their more expensive plans?

In the meantime, I want to check out the Torch and the 9700, but there are no ATT stores within 200-300 miles of me. The local Alltel store says they might be converted by December or January but haven't heard anything definite.

So it's just more sit tight and...wait.

[NicoleW78]

My contract isn't up until April, so I don't really have much of a choice until then. I did some comparisons between ATT and Verizon on pricing. For the absolute smallest family plan, with two smart phone add-ons, and extra texting on one line, Verizon was $60 more per month than ATT. Even if I upgrade ATT's smartphone plans, Verizon is still about $30 more a month. But.... what good is paying less for a plan if the coverage and service is lousy?

[wyodog]

Originally Posted by NicoleW78

My contract isn't up until April, so I don't really have much of a choice until then. I did some comparisons between ATT and Verizon on pricing. For the absolute smallest family plan, with two smart phone add-ons, and extra texting on one line, Verizon was $60 more per month than ATT. Even if I upgrade ATT's smartphone plans, Verizon is still about $30 more a month. But.... what good is paying less for a plan if the coverage and service is lousy?

Exactly!

10 Char

[uli2000]

have neither of you got the AT&T letter yet? AT&T will be replacing current Alltel phones starting in the next 60 days depending on market. You will be given a new comparable or slightly better phone thats AT&T 3g compatable. You will keep your Alltel plan and it will not require any additional comittment. They aim to have all markets switched over by end of q1 2011. Most markets I guess by about the end of the year or so. Personally, unless you're running a 7xxx series BB, just hang on a couple of months and get the phone AT&T gives you and not be stuck in another two years if you dont like it. I hear from a store manager friend initially you will be offered one of three "comparable" phones, but the closer you wait until your market switchover, the more choices you will be offered. Best bet is to wait until the last possible minute in order to get the newest phones. The only phone thats been confirmed as out is the iPhone, though they will let you switch to an iPhone, but you can't keep your Alltel plan, you have to go with a iPhone plan.

[uli2000]

Originally Posted by NicoleW78

My contract isn't up until April, so I don't really have much of a choice until then. I did some comparisons between ATT and Verizon on pricing. For the absolute smallest family plan, with two smart phone add-ons, and extra texting on one line, Verizon was $60 more per month than ATT. Even if I upgrade ATT's smartphone plans, Verizon is still about $30 more a month. But.... what good is paying less for a plan if the coverage and service is lousy?

from what I understand (from a store manager friend), you get granfathered into your Smartchoice plan. Only exception is if you want an iPhone, then you have to get an iPhone plan. As long as you dont make any changes, you can keep your plan as long as you want. For the price, if you have more than one smartphone, you cant beat the smartchoice plans. Like you saw, anything comparable would be $30-60/month more. Thats been really the only thing thats kept me with Alltel.

[dvernarsky]

I am planning on hanging on to my Tour until AT&T sends me my new phone, rather upgrading to the 9650, and then maybe upgrading to the Torch. I may try and hold out for a Torch refresh before doing that though. I am really hoping that maybe the miracle of all miracles will happen and the 9780 will be out before it is time to switch over.

[AFCEA]

Originally Posted by wyodog

Should I renew my contract and upgrade my phone to a Bold 9650?

The Bold 9650 will not work on AT&T Network. AT&T currently has the Bold 9600 and the Torch 9800 as their offerings. Both great phones.

Your current plan will translate over to AT&T. AT&T does not currently offer unlimited data on Smart phones for new or upgrades if you don’t already have it in place. You will be stuck with 2 MB or 2 GB plans. Don't know what ALLTEL's data is currently. Would hate for you to buy the ALLTEL Bold 9650 and then have to sport more money over to AT&T and have to get a different phone too. If money were not an object and you wanted to stay with AT&T to get the unlimited data that ALLTEL was offering I’d say do it. But seriously, Verizon has a better network then AT&T does for 3G coverage and you could still get your BB9650 and live life much happier. They have the unlimited data coverage still, but rumored to do the same in yearly 2011.


Some of ALTEL's market went to Verizon, but I suspect in your market they went to AT&T as Verizon dominated that market already.

Personally I’d wait until you got released from your ALTELL contract and head over to Verizon and get your BB Bold 9650. My company phone is a Sprint BB Bold 9650. My personal phone is the Verizon BB Bold 9650 and when I travel to Alaska I use my AT&T BB Bold 9700 as AT&T dominates Alaska. CDMA coverage in AK is horrible at best. Talk about crap for coverage!! You travel for hours without cell service in Alaska.

[WyTrailboss]

AT&T on their website states that Wyoming along with other area states will transfer to AT&T on January 7, 2011. You can also order you new phones on the website as well. Just search the AT&T website for Alltel and you will find the information.

This Alltel/Verizon/AT&T conversion has taken way to long. Also I think you can take the AT&T phone, which then transfers your contract to AT&T, and if you don't like the service within 30 days you can send the phone back to AT&T and go to another carrier with no fees attached.

Good luck everyone.