4 Comments to “Alltel Offers Up Cheap Laptop Data Plans For A Second Line”

1. 

   Posted by: MindFawk

   March 12, 2009 at 7:44 am EST

   The pack names are “Smart Choice”; but they do not include broadband internet via wireless card. The plans offer unlimited e-mail and internet on the phone device for $40, not via a laptop.

   From the Alltel site;

   Smart Choice 500

   Keep your smart device working harder with voice and data solutions. Get national voice minutes with an unlimited data plan and your favorite features – all for one low monthly price.

   Alltel Smart Choice 500 also includes:

   -Unlimited E-mail and Internet Access on Primary Line
   -500 National Freedom minutes
   -Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Minutes
   -Unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes starting at 7 PM
   -Unlimited Messaging
   -Domestic Long Distance and Free Roaming on the
   -National Freedom Network

   Included Plan Features:
   Basic Voice Mail, Caller ID, 3-Way Calling, No Answer Transfer, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting

   For 89.99, that is unless Alltel just hasn’t posted the deal on the site offering it for a laptop card as I haven’t found it to date.
2. 

   Posted by: Ronen Halevy

   March 12, 2009 at 8:12 am EST

   If you read the press release below it sure sounds like a laptop card…

   Alltel Wireless’ new bundle saves customers almost $250 a year by adding Wireless Internet as a secondary line of service

   LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – For customers seeking to cut their bills and save during these hard economic times, Alltel Wireless today announced that they can now add Wireless Internet as a secondary line of service on a Smart Choice Pack for only $40 a month. Typically $60 a month, this option will save new and existing customers almost $250 a year while delivering fast wireless access from the convenience of a laptop or personal computer.

   Alltel’s Wireless Internet makes it easy to stay connected, access email and update schedules while on the road. With fast and secure connections at speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps, customers can also wirelessly shop and work online at broadband speeds.

   “Alltel is always looking for new ways to deliver convenience to our customers, and the new bundle of Wireless Internet with a Smart Choice Pack allows our customers to save $20 a month and still receive the fastest wireless service available,” said Angela Rittgers, director of product management for Alltel Wireless. “Our customers will be able to enjoy the efficiency and ease of Wireless Internet, and our numerous Smart Choice Packs provide a wide range of options for customers based on their needs and budgets.”

   Alltel’s Smart Choice Packs provide customers with national voice minutes, an unlimited data plan and all their favorite features, including “My Circle,” all for one low monthly price. Packages start as low as $69.99 per month including 5 “My Circle” numbers, 500 anytime calling minutes, unlimited nights and weekends and more. For heavy users, Alltel offers the Smart Choice Pack 5500, providing 20 “My Circle” numbers, 5,500 anytime minutes, unlimited texting and a wide variety of additional features.

   In addition to providing high speed wireless Internet access to laptops and PCs, Smart Choice Packs also provide service for a variety of Alltel smart phones such as the BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve. These two popular smart phones feature the iconic BlackBerry design, trackball navigation and more. The BlackBerry Pearl is now free at http://www.shopalltel.com after online discounts and a mail-in rebate for customers signing a two year contract.

   Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, giving Customers unlimited, free calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network. 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 contract.
3. 

   Posted by: Tom

   March 12, 2009 at 8:20 am EST

   Also, Verizon currently offers (has for the 2+ years that I have had BlackBerry service with them) a $15/month add-on feature called Broadband Access Connect (or, more recently, Mobile Broadband Connect). This is much more cost effective for the “casual” data user. Although you share your single line for both voice and data, there is essentially a “modem on hold” capability that suspends (but doesn’t terminate) a data session in the event of an incoming or outgoing call. I also use a CradlePoint CTR350 router in order to share the data connection wirelessly (also, provides a single RJ45 wired connection.
4. 

   Posted by: DavidB

   March 12, 2009 at 8:45 am EST

   This is for what’s left of Alltel, the parts NOT included in the Verizon buyout, right?

   Yeah, that Mobile Broadband Connect is what the rest of the world calls “tethering”. its nice to be able to do (legally, unlike TetherBerry) but it doesn’t help the “road warrior” type that needs phone and data same time.

   I would LOVE to see Verizon offer a data card secondary line plan. And it shouldn’t cost any more than adding another BlackBerry service costs.