Alltel is the 5th largest wireless telecommunications company in the US. Started as a small business company that specializes installing telephone poles and cabling for telephone companies in Arkansas, eventually it became one of the largest regional mobile phone companies today. In January 30, 2006, Alltel first introduced the U Prepaid. It is Alltel's very own prepaid services plan.

Prepaid Plans

Alltel Prepaid has 3 types of prepaid plans; Pay per Minute, Pay per Day and Pay per Month plans. Pay per Minute plan must have a minimum remaining balance of $20 to have the accounts remain active.

The Pay per Day Plan costs 75 cents per day. This plan has four available features for subscribers to choose from: unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited favorite number calling, or unlimited text messaging. Also subscribers can add more than one feature for an additional 25 cents per day.

Alltel Prepaid Pay per Month offers $29.99, $39.99 and $69.99 plans. The $29.99 plan has 200 anytime minutes and 1,000 night and weekend minutes. The $39.99 plan offers 400 anytime minutes and 2,000 night and weekend minutes. Lastly, the $69.99 plan includes 700 anytime minutes with unlimited night and weekend minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile, and unlimited text messaging.

Pros and Cons

The Alltel Prepaid offers rather flexible options for its subscribers. And with its plans that are simple and easy for any subscribers, this makes this plan user friendly. Not to mention each of these plans has its benefits, they can be useful, beneficial and quite practical.

Plainly, the expense is the only downside of Alltel Prepaid. From services to activation, subscribers have to pay the fees.

Features

Minutes

Pay per minute plans for Alltel Prepaid is at 15 cents per minute. Minutes incurred outside the unlimited services for Pay per Day plans cost 10 cents per minute. Exceeding minutes under the $29.99 monthly plan cost 35 cents per minute while the $39.99 and $69.99 plans cost 15 cents per minute.

Data Plans

Alltel Prepaid offers the use of Alltel Axcess data service. And there are three available price points: the $19.95 per month for the All Axcess Pass. It includes unlimited messaging and web access, and also a $5 credit for downloadable items only for a one-time use. There's also the $5.99 for a month of just web and $1.49 for a day pass of web-only.

Text and Picture

Messages cost 10 cents only for plans that do not include the unlimited text message. And the text messaging packages are available for the pay per month plan: $5 for 300 messages, or $10 for 750 messages. The picture messaging is available and cost 25 cents per message and it is not available on all phones.

International

international calls are available only to Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Calling Features

Alltel Prepaid plans offer voicemail, caller ID and a 3 way calling.

Long Distance

Free

911

Yes

Payment Options

The payment options for a subscriber are available on online, via phone, replenishment card, Alltel stores or an Alltel customer service agent.

Roaming Charges

Alltel charges 59 cents per minute for calls while roaming.

Activation Fee

Alltel Prepaid charges $35 activation fee.

Minute Expiration Rules

The pay per minute plan has certain minutes that will expire based on the replenishment's amount of the subscriber. For the $20 to $44.99, minutes expire in 60 days while $45 to $54.99 minutes expire in 90 days. And a $55 to $99.99 refill, minutes expire in 180 days. For $100 or over, the minutes are good for one year. While the minutes from the pay per month plans expire at the end of the month and do not rollover.

Customer Service

The customer service is always available 24 hours, 7 days per week. Customer Service can be contacted by phone and the Internet. When calling from your Alltel prepaid cell phone; there are no airtime charges for the call. Customer service is also available at retail locations during normal business hours.

Prepaid phones for Alltel Prepaid differ from one state to another. Subscribers can visit the site for a complete list of prepaid phones available to them.