Looks like the rumors were dead on. Alltel now carries the BlackBerry Tour 9630. Sure, we know that Verizon bought Alltel way back in January, but Alltel is still operating in over 90 markets (I actually popped by an Alltel store in North Dakota not so long ago!). So, if you happen to have an Alltel location in your area, you can now get your hands on the BlackBerry Tour 9630. It’s available for $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate. You’ll need to sign up for a 1-year subscription to an Alltel ‘Smart Choice’ plan for $69.99/mth or more. Full press release after the jump.
Hmmmm, $69.99 a month… is that the right choice for you?
Travel the World or Across Town in Style with the BlackBerry Tour Smartphone from Alltel Wireless
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alltel Wireless today announced the availability of the BlackBerry® Tour™ smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM)(Nasdaq: RIMM)(TSX: RIM) in Alltel retail stores and online at alltel.com. Offering advanced communications, rich multimedia capabilities and consummate styling, the BlackBerry Tour on Alltel’s advanced 3G network allows customers to stay connected to the people and things that matter most. Plus with support for 3G networks abroad, customers can stay connected from virtually anywhere in the world.
“Alltel recognizes that for many people, a smartphone has become a lifeline to their business and personal relationships,” said Paul Bowersock, Senior Sales & Operations Leader for the Alltel Divestiture Trust. “If you’re traveling across the world or just across town, the speed and power of the BlackBerry Tour let you easily manage your busy life.”
BlackBerry Tour smartphone users can take advantage of Alltel’s advanced 3G network for faster upload and download speeds, streaming audio and video, and speedier browsing. The BlackBerry Tour will also keep up with your busy schedule and let you update your Facebook® page or edit a Microsoft PowerPoint® presentation for tomorrow’s meeting. The smartphone also features built-in GPS and mapping software, a large 2.44” high-resolution display that’s perfect for viewing videos, photos, and web pages, and a 3.2 MP camera with image stabilization, flash and video recording. Music and video lovers will appreciate the smartphone’s microSD/SDHC expandable memory slot which supports cards up to 16 GB, making it perfect for taking pictures and downloading tunes and shows on the go.
The BlackBerry Tour also comes with a highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and support for the Bluetooth® Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP), 256 MB of Flash memory, and support for BlackBerry App World™, which features a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones.
The BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone is available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a 1-year service contract. Alltel continues to be the only major wireless carrier to offer 2-year postpaid handset pricing to those signing 1-year contracts, creating enhanced flexibility and greater choice for customers. Customers must also select one of the Alltel Wireless Smart Choice packs that include national voice minutes, unlimited Internet browsing and e-mail, and “My Circle.” Smart Choice packs begin at $69.99.
The BlackBerry Tour smartphone and 1-year contract option is available only to customers in the 91 cellular market areas (CMAs) that Verizon Wireless is required to divest, which will continue to operate as Alltel Wireless until the sale agreements with AT&T and Atlantic Tele-Network are approved by the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission.
Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, providing unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15, or 25 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.
For more information concerning the sale of the divested markets, consumers can visit and log on to www.alltel.com, and go to the Customer Q&A section.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive property and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited
[Via: RIMarkable]