VERIZON TO BUY ALLTEL?

Here's some interesting mobile phone carrier scoop for Alltel and Verizon subscribers. According to Reuters, a source familiar with Verizon Wireless's plans has informed them that the cell phone service provider is engaged in serious negotiations to buy Alltel for $27 billion. Alltel, a top rural network operator serves around 13 million customers. The merging of these mobile phone carriers would give birth to a company serving more than 80 million subscribers. If the merge becomes successful, then Verizon will overtake AT&T as the largest US network operator in terms of subscribers.