At 22 Feb 2008 07:18:07 +0000 Larry wrote:

> Just as with any carrier, if they don't provide native coverage where
> you live, they won't provide service. For those of us they do, they
> have nationwide coverage:


I think Steve's point, however, was since so much of Alltel's "Nationwide"
coverage is roaming (at least toa much greater extent than Verizon's, for
example) that a $99 unlimited pla is a greater financial risk to Alltel,
who might eat a LOT of roaming charges.

> Of course, lots of the coverage outside their native service areas are
> provided by Sprint and Verizon and the foreign carriers outside the USA.

Rigth- who'd Alltel has to pay if you gab for 1000 minutes during a two
week vacation outside Alltel's native coverage. Fear of exceeding your
minute bucket "protects" Alltel from excessive roaming now- with unlimited,
all bets are off!


> Most people have no need for Nationwide service, and Alltel doesn't
> force it upon them with higher prices or restricted minutes if they
> don't need it.

While that's admirable for a regional carrier, the larger carriers started
offering nationwide because it doesn't cost them any more to. If AT&T and
Verizon have native coverage in NY and LA, it costs them no more to handle
a NY customer's call in LA or vice-versa. The real "scam" was the pre-
nationwide days when your own carrier charged you $1/minute to roam on
their own servicein a different city!

Alltel offers regional plans at a discount because those plans are native-
coverage only, and cheaper for Alltel to offer.