ALLTEL Wireless Customers Can Help Tsunami Victims by Texting.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- As part of its effort to help survivors of last month's earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, ALLTEL (NYSE: AT) announced today that its wireless customers can contribute to the relief operation by donating to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization.

Through Feb. 10, customers can use wireless phones with text messaging capability to donate to CARE. To make a $5 donation, customers can send a message to 4CARE (42273) with the word "gift" in the message. They will receive a message asking them to confirm a donation to CARE of $5. To do so, they will reply with "yes" or "Y."

The donations will appear on the customer's next monthly bill. Customers can make a maximum of five contributions for a total of $25. At the end of the campaign, ALLTEL will write a check for the entire amount of customers' donations to CARE. Standard text messaging rates will apply.

ALLTEL announced previously that the company would make a contribution to the American Red Cross relief efforts in South Asia and that employees were being encouraged to do likewise.

"One of the heartening developments in the wake of this terrible tragedy has been the way technology has enabled private citizens to rapidly become part of the relief effort," said Kevin Beebe, group president of operations for ALLTEL. "Text messaging can be a valuable tool for delivering resources to people in desperate need."

For more information about CARE, please visit www.careusa.org.

ALLTEL is a customer-focused communications company with more than 13 million customers and $8 billion in annual revenues. ALLTEL provides wireless, local telephone, long-distance, Internet and high-speed data services to residential and business customers in 26 states.

ALLTEL, NYSE: AT

www.alltel.com