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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 2192
Location: Dallas, TX
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:18 am Post subject: Alltel announces EVDO Rev-A Rollout Plans |
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| Quote: | LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Alltel Wireless today announced that it will continue expanding its wireless broadband network in 2008 with the launch of EVDO (evolution data optimized) Revision A technology, enabling customers to upload files five to 10 times faster than before.
“Rev. A is the next step in Alltel’s commitment to provide our customers with the fast wireless broadband service they have come to expect in their business and personal lives,” said Jeff Fox, chief operating officer of Alltel Wireless. “As our customers’ needs continue to grow, Alltel’s network is well-positioned to deliver higher speeds and greater capacity for years to come.”
Alltel’s existing broadband Wireless Internet service enables remote access to corporate intranets, productivity enhancing applications and a variety of consumer products, such as Alltel TV and XM Radio Mobile. Rev. A will enhance the performance of all of those services.
Alltel plans an initial rollout of Rev. A to 18 market areas and dozens of cities, including Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tampa. Customers using Rev. A will experience average upload speeds of 500-800 Kbps with bursts up to 1.8 Mbps. Upload speeds on the company’s existing broadband network average 50-70 Kbps, with bursts up to 144 Kbps, so the enhanced network will be five to 10 times faster.
Download speeds also will increase. Rev. A download speeds average 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps, with bursts up to 3.1 Mbps. By comparison, downloads on the existing broadband network average 400-700 Kbps with bursts up to 2.4 Mbps.
Using Rev. A, customers can expect to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail file attachment – the equivalent of a small Power Point® presentation or a large PDF file – in less than 15 seconds and upload the same file in less than 25 seconds.
Alltel Wireless customers will need a Rev. A-capable device to access the company’s enhanced broadband network. Rev. A-capable Wireless Internet cards for laptops include the Huawei EC228 USB and the UTStarcom UM 150. Customers with an HTC PPC6800 or the HTC Touch smartphone can make their phones Rev. A-capable by visiting www.htc.com/us/ and downloading the appropriate software. The software is free.
In addition to rolling out Rev. A in select markets, Alltel Wireless will continue to expand its existing EVDO network, which now covers 76 percent of its potential customers. By the end of 2008, Alltel expects to cover about 82 percent of its potential customers with EVDO.
Nationally, Alltel Wireless has one of the largest EVDO footprints of any U.S. carrier, covering cities such as Cleveland, Charlotte and Tampa, as well as many smaller communities. In addition to the extensive coverage provided by its own network, Alltel’s roaming agreements give its customers with data-card equipped laptops Wireless Internet access in all of the nation’s major metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Both versions of Alltel’s Wireless Internet service – EVDO and Rev. A – are available for $59.99 a month and do not require a voice plan in order to qualify.
Customers can add unlimited access to 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to any Alltel Wireless Internet plan for $9.99.
Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and control to the customer’s wireless experience with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, giving customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free. 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 current contract. Alltel recently received “Highest Call Quality Performance Among Wireless Cell Phone Users in the West and Southeast Regions, and in the Southwest Region in a Tie” according to J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 Wireless Call Quality Performance StudySM – Vol. 1.
Alltel is owner and operator of the nation’s largest wireless network and has more than 13 million wireless customers.
Alltel Wireless received the highest numerical score among wireless cell phone providers in the West and Southeast regions, and in a tie in the Southwest region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study–Vol 1. Study based on 23,472 wireless users measuring 6 providers in the West, and 5 in the Southeast and Southwest and measures opinions of consumers with the call quality of their wireless service. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in October 2007 and January 2008. Your experiences may vary. |
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jfarris
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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| You don't happen to know what the 18 markets are, do you? |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 2192
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| nope, but we're trying to find out. |
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tkcrabtree
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:00 am Post subject: |
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| Here in NE Arkansas Rev-A was on last night for around four hours and just turned back on again at 7AM. Now if they would just leave it on... |
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dieselguy
EVDO User
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: EVDO flashes |
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Starting last night @ 9:00 PM I noticed my usual 1xRTT changed to EVDO briefly then back to 1x. Tonight my signal level goes from our standard 2 bars to 4 to none then EVDO pops up with no signal level Y'all think that an update is imminent for me? I sure hope so! I'm in zip 54545.
Ken |
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Atmega
EVDO User
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: EVDO flashes |
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| dieselguy wrote: | Starting last night @ 9:00 PM I noticed my usual 1xRTT changed to EVDO briefly then back to 1x. Tonight my signal level goes from our standard 2 bars to 4 to none then EVDO pops up with no signal level Y'all think that an update is imminent for me? I sure hope so! I'm in zip 54545.
Ken |
That zip code is MANITOWISH WATERS as I found which isn't to far away from my zip code in Appleton Wisconsin. I am getting the service tomorrow and from what Alltel told me they have EVDO here.
So best of luck for a roll out in your area. |
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whyzeman
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:26 am Post subject: |
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That's nice news and all, but for those of us who live in the "rural" areas hundreds of miles away from the "major outlets" - as I am about 150 miles from New Orleans - I don't see Rev A making it here before Verizon comes in and we're forgotten about altogether.
So, it's one of those "I'm happy for you but it doesn't help me at all" kind of situations. |
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F34R
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 27 Sep 2007
Posts: 168
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: |
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i thought the same thing about even getting EVDO. I'm 70 miles from the nearest "big" city in South Carolina, yet, EVDO did come her, and for the most part works well.
150 miles from NO, should put you somewhere near a large city though. What's the closest city to you ? |
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NewToEV
EVDO User
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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Any information on what markets will be the first to get Rev A?
How can I find out when my market will get this service? I called several retail stores and the customer service hotline and nobody I talk to even knows what Rev A is.
I am in the Charleston, SC market. |
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whyzeman
EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 104
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| F34R wrote: | | 150 miles from NO, should put you somewhere near a large city though. What's the closest city to you ? |
Nope. I live in Southern Miss. I may have exaggerated. New Orleans 130 miles from me, not 150. If you want to count Mobile as a "major outlet", it's a little closer. If not, New Orleans is the nearest. Jackson may count. As of now, aside from Jackson, Verizon doesn't have EVDO in our entire state!
I may be just paranoid, but I continue to have this sickening feeling that Verizon is just going to make sure the former Alltel rural towers have functionality, then they're going to abandon them. Just this weird feeling of:
Tech Support: Thanks for calling Verizon BroadbandAccess support. How may we help you?
Me: Yes, my internet is very very slow at the moment.
TS: Does it work?
Me: Yes, but very slow. Like, dial-up slow.
TS: But, does it work?
Me: *sigh* Yes.
TS: Then be happy with that. We have to make sure our New Yorkers are getting 10 megabits per second. *hangs up. |
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dieselguy
EVDO User
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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I'm probably 200 miles from Appleton. I also live in a rural area, nothin but lakes and forests. So maybe you'll get it there too. I'm still only getting flashes of evdo and pretty much on 1x still. Reading other posts I may have several months before it's turned on steady.
I also worry about Verizon forgetting about us too. Hopefully it will be turned on before that happens! So keep your fingers crossed I guess.
It would be nice if Alltel said something as to which area will be getting evdo and when. Don't know why it's so secretive.
Ken |
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Atmega
EVDO User
Joined: 23 Jun 2008
Posts: 56
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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I think they are secretive so they don't have to say exactly when it will be available if at all. If they say it will be working in your area by this date and have issues with it they don't want customers to call back saying "We were told it would be here on this day and its past that day".
That way they work at their own pace. Hopefully they will bring it here soon, the upload speeds look great from my current upload which is around 100 kbps. |
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dieselguy
EVDO User
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
In addition to rolling out Rev. A in select markets, Alltel Wireless will continue to expand its existing EVDO network, which now covers 76 percent of its potential customers. By the end of 2008, Alltel expects to cover about 82 percent of its potential customers with EVDO. |
Just go one step further and say which SID's and market areas will be involved in the upgrade. It gives ya some idea that faster speeds may be on the horizon. 1x is better than dial-up here so a hope for higher speeds in the boonies is a long time coming.
Ken |
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karlyn
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 377
Location: Lynchburg, VA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Here's the list from a pretty reliable source (post 6):
| Quote: | A little over 2000 sites in 20 markets will be upgraded to Rev.A in 2008.
Those markets include
Akron
Charlotte
Cleveland
Columbia
Fort Smith
Ft. Meyers
Greenville
Kansas*
Little Rock
Midland
New Orleans
Norfolk
Omaha
Phoenix
Pinellas
Raleigh
Richmond
Savannah
Tallahassee
Tampa |
*I wonder if it's really all of Kansas or just the Wichita area as noted in the press release Alex posted. |
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dieselguy
EVDO User
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 26
Location: Northern Wisconsin
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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Well, it looks like the closest revA site to me might be either Cleveland or Omaha. That's OK, I wasn't expecting to go from 1x to revA, revO will be just fine. I did write Alltel though re the EVDO upgrade in my area. Here's thier response; "Dear Valued Alltel Customer,
We appreciate the inquiry about your issue. You will need to contact someone at a local retail store to get updates on local system upgrades if any are planned. They can contact a local switch tech and find this information for you.
If you have any other questions, then you can email us back or please call the 1-800-255-8351 number select option 3, three times from a landline number or *611 from a Alltel cell phone other than the one experiencing the issue and we would be glad to assist you.
Thanks for your time and we appreciate your business.
Alltel Data Support Group
Maybe this info will help someone find out if they're in store for an upgrade.
Ken |
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