Alltel History

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Alltel has a rich history of innovation, service and achievement that spans more than six decades. Here, you'll find our most recent accomplishments as well as highlights and milestones from the past 60 years.


1943	Allied Telephone is founded in Little Rock, Ark.
1983	Allied and Mid-Continent merge to form ALLTEL
1985	ALLTEL launches its first wireless system in Charlotte, N.C.
1990	Systematics (ALLTEL Information Services) acquired
1993	ALLTEL opens its first wireless retail store Purchase of GTE's independent telephone directory publishing contracts Acquisition of GTE's Georgia telephone properties
1994	ALLTEL named to S&P 500 Index
1996	ALLTEL offers long-distance service Virtuoso II wireless customer care and billing system introduced to market ALLTEL announces plans to become full-service provider in Little Rock, Ark., and Charlotte, N.C.
1997	ALLTEL's wireless and wireline businesses converge into a single organization to deliver a full suite of communications products to customers.
1998	ALLTEL merges with 360 Communications and as a result gains 2.6 millon customers in 15 states.
1999	ALLTEL announces completion of its merger with Standard Group, Inc. of Cornelia, Ga. The merger adds more than 71,000 local telephone lines. ALLTEL completes $1.8 billion merger with Aliant Communications of Lincoln, Nebraska. ALLTEL completes $600 million merger with Liberty Cellular of Kansas.
2000	ALLTEL completes wireless property exchange with Bell Atlantic and GTE, setting up a roaming agreement to establish the nation's largest standardized digital wireless network covering 95 percent of the United States. ALLTEL introduces "Total Freedom®," a nationwide calling plan that eliminates roaming and long-distance charges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. ALLTEL acquires wireless properties in New Orleans and Baton Rouge from SBC Communications Inc.
2002	ALLTEL acquires Verizon local access lines in Kentucky for $1.9 billion. ALLTEL acquires 700,000 wireless customers from CenturyTel, Inc. inArkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas and Wisconsin for$1.5 billion.
2003	ALLTEL sells its financial services division to Fidelity National Financial. ALLTEL purchases wireless properties in southern Mississippi from Cellular XL. ALLTEL adds picture messaging to Axcess wireless data services.
2004	Alltel offers instant connection with Touch2Talk service ALLTEL acquires wirelss assets from U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom. ALLTEL invested more than $1 billion to improve and expand its local telephone and digital wireless networks.
2005	Alltel announces acquisition of Western Wireless Alltel acquires wireless assets from Cingular Alltel acquires wireless properties from PSC Alltel unveils new corporate logo symbolizing commitment to customers Alltel begins customer-centric brand advertising campaign Alltel completes merger with Western Wireless Alltel donates $1 million to Katrina relief effort led by Bush, Clinton
2006	Alltel introduces new prepaid wireless service that's all about 'U' Alltel launches 'My Circle,' a one-of-a-kind program that gives customers free calls to any network or number they choose Alltel completes purchase of First Cellular of Southern Illinois Alltel signs 10-year nationwide roaming agreement with Sprint Alltel extends roaming agreement with Cingular Wireless until 2012 Alltel completes spinoff of landline business, merger with VALOR to form Windstream Communications Alltel completes purchase of Midwest Wireless
2007	Alltel Wireless changes the face of wireless phones with Celltop Celltop from Alltel Wireless wins "Best in Show" award at CTIA Wireless 2007 Alltel completes sale of southern Minnesota properties to meet divestiture requirement Alltel Wireless celebrates one year of 'My Circle' Alltel to be acquired by TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners for $71.50 per share
2008	Alltel Wireless celebrates second anniversary of "My Circle" with free bonus number Alltel Wireless ranks highest in customer call quality performance in three regions across U.S. according to J.D. Power and Associates Verizon Wireless announces plans to acquire Alltel and expand Nation's most reliable wireless network Alltel Wireless Wi-Fi Now Available to All U.S. Residents