Midwest Wireless/Alltel deal complete

[agentHibby]

here is a link

Originally Posted by www.midwestwireless.com

MANKATO, Minn. (Oct. 3, 2006) – Alltel has completed its $1.075 billion cash purchase of Midwest Wireless Holdings of Mankato, Minn.

“The completion of this transaction is very good news for Midwest Wireless customers,” said Midwest Wireless President and CEO Dennis Miller. “Our customers will continue to enjoy the personalized service they are used to receiving, and, after the two companies are fully integrated, they will gain the added benefit of Alltel’s national footprint and expansive array of advanced wireless products and services.”

Miller and his leadership team will continue to manage the Midwest Wireless properties.

“We are very pleased that Dennis and the Midwest Wireless leadership team will remain in place to help Alltel build ties to our new markets,” said Kevin Beebe, Alltel’s group president of operations. “Alltel believes that local communities are the foundation of our business and customers of Midwest Wireless can expect the same high quality service and customer care from Alltel that they have been receiving from Midwest Wireless.”

Alltel expects to gain approximately 450,000 customers in southern Minnesota, northern and eastern Iowa, and western Wisconsin, expanding the company’s 850 MHz wireless business into contiguous markets that cover a population of 1.9 million. Alltel is purchasing Midwest Wireless’ licenses, customers and network assets, including 1.9 MHz PCS spectrum.

Related to the Midwest Wireless closing, Alltel has agreed to divest four rural Southern Minnesota markets that it purchased from Western Wireless in 2005, which overlap with the Midwest Wireless service area. Counties in these markets include:

Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Sibley, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine.

The divestiture is part of an agreement with the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has appointed a trustee to operate the divested markets, which include licenses, retail stores, employees, customers and the network assets necessary to operate the wireless business until the markets are sold.

Alltel is the owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network and has more than 11 million wireless customers. For more information about Alltel, please visit http://www.alltel.com.

I am guessing that it won't be until late 06/early 07 for the Midwest Wireless name to be no longer used. Once they find a suitor and the suitor buys the markets then they can call all the MidWest Wireless markets Alltel. MWW markets might start selling Alltel plans soon like the Western Wireless deal was. I might go to a store to today and see if I can findout more. But they could be in the dark.

[iamthatdizzy]

ill get a screenshot of our release that gave a time frame.

Currently they are looking at Spring 2007 for service converion, and Summer 2007 for the entire brand change to be complete.

I cant wait to get Alltel phones.

[Dogma]

I would think they would want to market the service under the Alltel name sooner than Summer of '07? Maybe it just takes that long to get everything converted, but I thought that the Midwest Wireless name would be gone before Spring.

[MOTOhooligan]

As far as billing system conversion it should take a weekend to get all the customers converted from Midwest's billing system to Alltel's billing system. Dunno how long the rebranding of sales offices, etc, takes. Alltel has the whole converting small carriers thing down to a science. I am very impressed with the speed at which they have done this in the past.

[iamthatdizzy]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

As far as billing system conversion it should take a weekend to get all the customers converted from Midwest's billing system to Alltel's billing system. Dunno how long the rebranding of sales offices, etc, takes. Alltel has the whole converting small carriers thing down to a science. I am very impressed with the speed at which they have done this in the past.

Well, we have TONS of dealers, and kiosk booths... plus all our retail stores, so it will take a bit of time.

I, for one, am impressed at all the information they are giving us about the merger. They are so open about it, and our CEO, Dennis Miller, will answer almost any question we throw at him.

[Dogma]

Has anyone heard what is to become of the divested A band in southern MN? Currently the "old Alltel/CellurOne" network of MN is in a trust company, but is to be sold off. Also, what plans do you think Alltel has with MN-11 on the A side which it was allowed to keep? I don't get that, maybe they plan on selling it eventually.

[iamthatdizzy]

no idea to be totally honest with you. Seeing as how it is in a trust, it could easily go both ways.

[Yourcongressman]

I'm hoping that Verizon buys the overlap RSA's. It would compliment their network in Minnesota. Then I could actually M2M with my parents and family. yes in Eveleth, MN they have Verizon. I am on Midwest Wireless/ soon Alltel.

[music4praise]

Originally Posted by Dogma

Has anyone heard what is to become of the divested A band in southern MN? Currently the "old Alltel/CellurOne" network of MN is in a trust company, but is to be sold off. Also, what plans do you think Alltel has with MN-11 on the A side which it was allowed to keep? I don't get that, maybe they plan on selling it eventually.

It went to Rural Cellular Corp. Here is the news release:

http://www.alltel.com/corporate/medi...1dec1306b.html

[inquirer22]

Originally Posted by music4praise

It went to Rural Cellular Corp. Here is the news release:

http://www.alltel.com/corporate/medi...1dec1306b.html

Excluding the larger pocket books of the bigger phone companies, Dobson and or RCCC were the logical choices for this area. I am surprised it wasn't Dobson given that they are doing better. Nevertheless, it will be good for RCCC which has other licenses in MN and is headquartered there. It would have been nice had the deal involved a swap as I'm sure Alltel would have liked some of RCCC's licenses in areas like in the Northeast, Northwest, or South (some overlap there).

[Dogma]

I am still speculating Alltel will be selling off A-side MN 11 and the A-side ring around the twin cities. It makes no sense for them to keep it as I doubt their roaming revenue is much. I could see Cingular buying that eventually.

[inquirer22]

Originally Posted by Dogma

I am still speculating Alltel will be selling off A-side MN 11 and the A-side ring around the twin cities. It makes no sense for them to keep it as I doubt their roaming revenue is much. I could see Cingular buying that eventually.

It would make less sense for them to sell off areas for only cash if they are not required too. If Cingular has no plans on voluntarily selling their monopoly on all the cellular licenses in southern Texas and eastern Florida which are both considerably larger areas than the areas in question in Minnesota, why would Alltel voluntarily sell? Alltel is not desperate for money at this point, and they probably wouldn't get much for RSA-11. I could see them doing a swap of RSA-11 for some area that they currently don't have licenses, but otherwise, it would be a terrible move for them.

As for the ring around the twin cities, that makes a lot of sense to hold on to. There are plenty of possibilities for customers in outer urban settings. Those signing up with Alltel in the ring would up Alltel's number of customers. For the customers they would have coverage in the urban areas because of the cheap roaming deals Alltel has with other carriers. Its a win/win for Alltel and their customers.

My only surprise is that Alltel didn't arrange some swap with RCCC for what they had to divest. I cannot imagine RCCC having a lot of money to spend. On the other hand, I'm sure Alltel would have loved to have swapped with them as they have licenses in the northeast, northwest, and south that Alltel could have used.

[jones]

http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wi...es-alltel.html (UNICEL to get 80 cell sites from Alltel)

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by inquirer22

Alltel is not desperate for money at this point, and they probably wouldn't get much for RSA-11. I could see them doing a swap of RSA-11 for some area that they currently don't have licenses, but otherwise, it would be a terrible move for them.

As for the ring around the twin cities, that makes a lot of sense to hold on to. There are plenty of possibilities for customers in outer urban settings. Those signing up with Alltel in the ring would up Alltel's number of customers.

RSA-11 would be a strictly roaming revenue market for Alltel if they are not to sell or swap it with another carrier. I do agree swapping RSA 11 with another carrier makes sense. However, Cingular does own the Rochester MSA and I could see them wanting RSA 11 and the ring around the cities southern side.

With having A band and B band like that there are engineering problems as well, especially with handoffs.

[Cailiff04]

I'm sorry that Midwest Wireless wasted theit rime to merge with alltell. Alltel is a joke if you ask me!! They ripped me off 2 years ago when i had them!!

Alltel AKA R I P O F F!!!!!!!!

[GBPhoenix]

Any thoughts as to when Alltel will eliminate the brand Midwest?

[agentHibby]

Midwest Wireless name will be no more once Rural Cellular takes over the divestment markets.
So the same day Rural Cellular is in southern MN is the same day Mid West Wireless will be no more.

My guess would be in March or April.

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

Midwest Wireless name will be no more once Rural Cellular takes over the divestment markets.
So the same day Rural Cellular is in southern MN is the same day Mid West Wireless will be no more.

My guess would be in March or April.

What am I missing...why would RCC have anything to do with when Alltel will put its brand on the box? Through the rumor mill I'm hearing March for the rebranding to Alltel and their plans.

[music4praise]

Originally Posted by Dogma

What am I missing...why would RCC have anything to do with when Alltel will put its brand on the box? Through the rumor mill I'm hearing March for the rebranding to Alltel and their plans.

Unicel purchased the network in the counties that Alltel had to divest to get the MWW deal approved. These were part of the old Western Wireless network.

[agentHibby]

Originally Posted by Dogma

What am I missing...why would RCC have anything to do with when Alltel will put its brand on the box? Through the rumor mill I'm hearing March for the rebranding to Alltel and their plans.

Right now is southern MN Alltel is not allowed to put its brand name on the Cellular System B network until a new suitor (Rural Cellular) officially takesover the Operations for the Cellular System A network.
Since that is not happening in Iowa, Alltel could go ahead and end the Midwest Wireless name and plans and start using the Alltel name and plans. The problem is people on the border of IA and MN. Wondering why is the brand into 2 pieces and people in MN can still get MWW plans and Iowa can't. It is still best for Iowa to change its name to Alltel the same time as MN so there is no confusion.

Hopefully that is not confusing.

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

Right now is southern MN Alltel is not allowed to put its brand name on the Cellular System B network until a new suitor (Rural Cellular) officially takesover the Operations for the Cellular System A network.
Since that is not happening in Iowa, Alltel could go ahead and end the Midwest Wireless name and plans and start using the Alltel name and plans. The problem is people on the border of IA and MN. Wondering why is the brand into 2 pieces and people in MN can still get MWW plans and Iowa can't. It is still best for Iowa to change its name to Alltel the same time as MN so there is no confusion.

Hopefully that is not confusing.

I gotcha. I guess I thought RCC was the rightful owner of the trust company and Alltel did not have any ties to it anymore and could rebrand the MWW name anytime.

[Goldbond]

i am currently a MWW customer and have a really crappy phone. would it be worth it to switch to the slvr L7c now or should i just wait until i can get alltel phone. When would be?

[djjim]

Originally Posted by Goldbond

i am currently a MWW customer and have a really crappy phone. would it be worth it to switch to the slvr L7c now or should i just wait until i can get alltel phone. When would be?

Alltel does not carry that phone, so if you want it, get it now! It will still work when Alltel takes over. Look at Alltel phones, and look at MWW phones and pick out what you want now! As far as Alltel, I think you will be happy with them. They are a great company(I don't work for them either!)

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by djjim

Alltel does not carry that phone...

yet. Rumors I have heard say that Alltel will have the CDMA SLVR soon.

[djjim]

Originally Posted by MOTOhooligan

yet. Rumors I have heard say that Alltel will have the CDMA SLVR soon.

I have not come across that rumor...probably because most people care less for the SLVR at this point.

[jmm56265]

So what will happen to my service?? I had purchased service from Alltel online in july knowing they were going to buy midwestwireless in mind and my bill had always said alltel...Now its From CellularOne...I hate CellularOne...Sucks...I still log into alltel.com to pay my bill..

Since I purchased service from alltel shouldnt i be able to switch back to alltel???? My contract is with alltel!!! I hope i am able to switch my service back.....

[maximus]

What are is your number out of?

[jmm56265]

it is out of west central minnesota. Montevideo to be exact. It use to be a midwest wireless number but i had ported it over when i joined alltel...

[maximus]

Originally Posted by jmm56265

it is out of west central minnesota. Montevideo to be exact. It use to be a midwest wireless number but i had ported it over when i joined alltel...

Theres a pretty decent chance you've been divested to Unicel (RCC).

[jmm56265]

yes i am positive i have been. Do you think with enough complaining that i agreed to the contract under false pretenses thinking i was getting alltel services would work to get out of the contract so i can go back to MW Soon to be alltel..???