Alltel Extended Network
I am in 15 day trial period with verizon after having been with Cingular for over 15 years. Home area is South Florida but I travel to Philadelphia, NY and NJ frequently and felt that VZ may be better for me. I bought a Nokia 3589i tri mode phone and when I landed in Philly this week the phone said I was on the the Alltel Extended Network, not Verizon. I also got a flashing Digital symbol and the 1x symbol. When I dialed 611 I got Verizon. I called and spoke with a number of different people in customer service, some of whom said that I wouldn't get all features -- something that is unacceptable to me. However, I seem to get my messages and call waiting worked fine after upgrading software. And they say I won't get roaming charges. I...
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I work for an indirect verizon wireless agent. The way i understand it works is on your phone you have that little triangle, and the actuall words on your screen. When the triangle is flashing that is what we call extended network. Your phone works as normal no additional charges. But if it's solid and the screen shows the words roaming, or if you make a call and it says roam with a timer next to it you are roaming off our network, and will be billed .69 cents per minute. Extended network should offer you all of your features, I haven't tested it myself but i'm told it works as normal. good luck
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The way I understand it, VZW has extensive roaming agreements with ALLTEL. Your banner showing that you're on the ALLTEL network is basically sayin that you're no longer on VZW's towers, but rest easy, you are with one of their close roaming partners. Chances are, unless your plan includes roaming fees, you wont' be charged. I've heard that ALLTEL and VZW work so closely that all of your features should work fine without interruption. This could explain why you got VZW when you used 611 in ALLTEL's area. I used to live in an area that was completely permeated with both services and no matter which one you were on, you could never tell thedifference as far as service went.
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Let me clarify. Both VZW and Alltel use CDMA technoligy for their wireless signals, and both use it at the same frequency of 800 mega hurtz. Nokia also makes phones for both VZW and Alltel, so there's a good chance that the phone was programmed to display Alltel when picking up the CDMA signal, although it went to VZW to be sold. Now, if you have friends with VZW, and their phones also say Alltel, then you're in an area where Alltel has the strongest signal. If their phone says VZW on it, then the phone was programmed incorrectly. EITHER WAY...it doesn't matter. Based on the fact that you said the service works great, and you got VZW when you called 611, I would guess the phone was programmed to say Alltel on the VZW signal. But that'...
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I think you may be right, though at home the phone displays Verizon ok. VZW techs didn't really know what or why there was an Alltel display when I showed the phone to them in NJ, where the in store techs all showed Verizon on their phones. I guess if I don't get a bill it really doesn't matter. It just is annoying to me and indicates something isn't right. Thanks to you and others for your comments.
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Here is what's really going on...You are on Verizon's extended network which is an area where there is no Verizon towers but they have agreements with Alltel to roam off of their towers which is why VZW has the best coverage. The only features that shouldnt work are pix/flix messaging. I live in an extended network area and get all services but those. Even voicemail indicator, Get It Now, Instant Messenger. You should not be getting charged for being in that area. Your phone, however, should not be saying Alltel on it at all though. It should be saying just Extended Network. Alltel does carry the same phone so it is possible that it came from them and somehow sold through Verizon. Any Verizon store should be able to fix that if its a big pro...
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untouchable pretty much nailed it on the nose however GIN isnt guaranteed to work in extended areas, it may work but depending on where you are but GIN is based on VERIZON'S 1X network, thats what the 1X means on the screens, I have seen that stay on my phone in extended areas but it didnt occur to me to see if GIN worked
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