WOuldn't that be nice?
Verizon attempted to buy out Alltel here, but the Feds said "No. That would be a monopoly."
The result is that AT&T bought out Alltel, and our accounts were switched over, after being assured they were going to invest heavily in towers, etc. I have over 10,000 rollover minutes with AT&T because the damned phone won't work past the end of the sidewalk, and AND a Verizon account, because the place I need the stinking thing is out in the boonies where I work.
Add in the Feds doing away with the old phones which finally worked, and I have thousands in equipment and bills for services which just don't get the job done. When the contracts run out, I'm done with the SOBs. I can cut my monthly bills in half by using $45 a month unlimited services phones if they work, and I can find out for $100 with no ongoing obligation.
Try Virgin Mobile. No contract and they have some decent phones. I refuse to get any contract for cell phone service. I have been using no contract phones for the last five years.