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"As promised, Verizon and Alltel tied the knot today, in a $5.9 billion acquisition, plus $22.9 billion of Alltel debt. Combined they form the nation's largest wireless carrier, with 83.7 customers (12.9 of those from the Alltel fold). For the time being, Alltel customers can sit tight and continue to use their devices and service plans as usual, with re-branding operations to happen Q2 and Q3 of 2009."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/verizon-completes-alltel-acquisition-now-covers-83-7-million-cu/>