Saving Money: Alltel Wireless Slices Bundled Internet From $60 to $40

Saving money might be the one commonality on everyone’s mind lately. Knowing it, Alltel Wireless on Tuesday made an announcement targeted exactly at the frugality in all of us.

Alltel cell phone users can now save $250 a year, according to the company, by bundling in (i.e. buying more for less) wireless Internet on a “Smart Choice Pack” with an Alltel cell phone.

The new cost to do so is $40 a month instead of $60. The sell is to buy this $40-a-month wireless Internet service for your PC or laptop as an add-on feature in your cell phone plan.

But wait a minute.

It was announced in Jan. 2009 that Alltel Corporation was gobbled up by Verizon Wireless for $5.9 billion, which now makes Verizon Wireless the largest carrier in the U.S. At its high point, Alltel only operated in 34 U.S. states.

Surfing Alltel’s Web site today might leave you frustrated. You can’t do or see anything until you enter a valid zip code where Alltel provides service. You might find it difficult to find one, too.

Nonetheless, Alltel Wireless is proceeding by offering this product at a lower price. Its wireless Internet is advertised to deliver speeds up to 3.1 Mbps, which is half the top speed of many high-speed cable Internet providers.

Even without a bundle, both high-speed DSL service (i.e. with AT&T) and high-speed cable Internet can be obtained for less than $40 per month and more in the range of $30 to $35.