I, too, am new to Alltel, coming from Verizon in Charleston, SC.  I'm very
happy with Alltel's 700 min/mo for $39 on the more local Greater Freedom
plan.  It's a better plan than Verizon's Local Digital Choice, especially
when you want to go on that occasional trip out of the 2-state coverage
area.  My last Florida trip on Verizon cost over $230 in roaming nonsense
in a month.  I can simply ADD 100 minutes of nationwide service for $10 on
Alltel, instead of paying the exhorbitant rate nonsense.  Adding another
100 minutes is as simple as dialing 611 to the TSR.  This plan works well
for me with its unlimited N/W, free nationwide long distance and, because
many of my friends are on Alltel already, no charge to call any of them
from the home area against my monthly minutes, even at noon on Wednesday!  
From Alltel to Alltel cellular phones, it beats walkie-talkie on Nextel by
over 2:1!  And, unlike walkie service, it's FULL DUPLEX....(c;  We even set
up 3-way-calling between 3 Alltel cellulars and it worked great in FULL
DUPLEX....

Alltel seems much more interested in being a cellular phone company for
business than Verizon, who is more interested in the glitzy teenage girl
and video game toyphone market....

I'm quite happy, so far.  Even in the boonies of rural Coastal South
Carolina, I've gotten phone calls in areas Verizon is DEAD!

Alltel waived all the initial costs.  I brought my "defective" Motorola
V60i phone from Verizon, who blamed the little phone for every problem
their equipment ever had, so I had no need of signing a contract and
Alltel's reps didn't try to press me into one, either.  That says something
about their service, right there.  The "defective" phone on Verizon's
system works perfectly on Alltel.  As a matter of fact, Alltel will
complete and hold calls, faultlessly, with signal levels that will cause
Verizon to dump the same phone.  Must have more sensitive equipment, more
intelligently installed.

(Dear Alltel - Free service is always welcome when advertising your company
in a good light.....(c;)

I've been an Altell customer for 5 years now. Their service is great
around here (west central FL). I always get a signal. Other people are
always whining about not being able to get a signal, or they have to
go outdoors to make a call. My fone even works in the elevator at
work. Other people have to go outside the building

I have the greater Freedom, which includes all of NC and SC, with
1,300 anytime minutes (plus unlimited night and weekend and nationwide
long distance) for 39.95- what a deal!  Got this special when they
were offering it in the spring.