Who will win Alltel?

The news slipped during a February call with analysts, when Alltel admitted that it was reviewing a number of options concerning a possible sale. Now AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel have joined private equity firms as potential suitors for the $22 billion (market valuation) wireless carrier. Alltel is the fifth-largest U.S. carrier with a coverage footprint that includes many of the less-served rural areas of the country. Who will want to link up with Alltel? The answer may wait until after the next FCC spectrum auction.

For more on Alltel's prospects:
- read the article at Network World