Y'all remember that 2016-SMS timestamp bug we discussed a few weeks ago? The one that caused all incoming text messages to be dated from the year 2016?

Well, good news as HTC has released patches for Telus, US Cellular and Alltel users (Sprint got theirs last week; not a peep though from Verizon yet).

Telus

• Diamond
• Touch Pro
• Touch Pro 2

Alltel

• Touch Pro
• Diamond (n/a)

US Cellular

• Touch Pro 2
• Touch Pro (n/a)

Remember, these don't play too well with custom ROMs, so best to stick with the 'Ziggy' patch.  

Sure, this was an unfortunate bug, but three to four weeks isn't too bad for an official patch, we suppose...we mean in comparison to where we were a few years ago (Anyone remember the Sprint 700wx SMS debacle? That was like a 6 month wait!)

[Thanks to Gregory P for the Telus tip!]

For you folks out there rocking an Alltel HTC Touch Diamond, there's a ROM update now available. Here's what's fixed:

• Resolves potential activation issues when dialing *22899.
• Provides a fix for auto-dialing while in “Contacts” application.
• Opera browser software upgraded to later version.
• Includes additional miscellaneous bug fixes.

It's a full-on ROM update, so your phone will be wiped. Be sure to back up any important data first. And if you give this a go, let us know in the comments what version Opera Mobile is upgraded to.

Go get the update here.

Alltel's Treo Pro has gone on sale a day before we expected, making it the first CDMA Treo Pro for sale in the United States. (Ya hear that, Sprint? OK. You'll have yours out March 15.)

It retails for $519.99 but is knocked down to $199.99 after online discount and mail-in rebate, along with the usual contract stuff.

Go check it out here.

As we continue to await (and await, and await) the Sprint Treo Pro, the Boy Genius Report, er, reports that Alltel's set to launch its own Treo Pro (full review) on Thursday for $199 after contract and rebate, though BGR opines that "this might just be for divested customers only."

That said, it's cool to see Alltel continue to release Windows Mobile phones (it's got the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro) while its new parent company Verizon keeps playing catch-up, though we hope to see the Diamond any day now. But despite VZW's sluggishness, six of the seven smartphones listed on its Web site are (aging) Windows Mobile phones, so we shouldn't be too harsh.

Take a page out of the playbook it recently bought from Alltel, Verizon Wireless is launching  a "Friends and Family" plan [via] that lets you call five to 10 numbers for free, a la "My Circle." That should alleviate any fears Alltel subscribers may have had after thei were swallowed up by Verizon.

The "Friends and Family" deal goes live on Sunday. Here's what you need to qualify:

To take advantage of Friends & Family, you need to be on a qualifying Nationwide Single Line plan with 900 or more Anytime Minutes. Single line customers can select up to 5 numbers to add to their Friends & Family calling group.

If you are on a Nationwide Family SharePlan®, you need to have 1,400 or more Anytime Minutes, and you can select up to 10 numbers that will be shared among plan members.

Once you make a change to Friends & Family numbers, the information in your account(s) will update the following day. There is no charge to sign up and no charge, ever, to make changes to your Friends & Family calling directory.

 Now that Verizon has completed their Alltel marriage/merger, they're sitting on a few assets they no longer need -- like an ex bachelor who suddenly realizes a married man doesn't need a Miller Light neon sign. When we say "realizes," we mean "compelled to by federal regulators." When we say "a few assets," we're talking $3 billion in wireless assets. That's one heck of a yard sale.  

And, like any good yard sale, the neighbors show up first. AT&T apparently is first in line a wallet full of cash thanks to its recent iPhone and tower sales. Carlyle Group, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co, and Providence Equity Partners LLC also will be there looking for whatever deals they can get.  All of the above, however, have to keep those self-same federal regulators happy, so AT&T will probably find themselves haggling a bit.

The Wall Street Journal (pay site) via Engadget Mobile

After a brief engagement, Verizon and Alltel have set a date to finalize the $5.9 billion purchase; January 9, 2009. Seventy-Eight Million subscribers will be the guests at the blessed event putting Verizon about 3 million customers ahead of AT&T, thier closest rival. The deal doesn't come without baggage though, Verizon will assume Alltel's $22.9 billion in debt. Verizon reports that they have recieved commitments from eight financial institutions to provide $17 billion in financing for the deal making this a very expensive ceremony.

Businessweek via Engadgetmobile.com

Today Alltel announced that they're going to be offering simple push email to their Windows Mobile customers in the form of an app they're calling “Alltel Mobile E-mail.” We call it “Seven” and know and love it in its free Beta Program form. The Beta offers their latest and greatest and it's one of my first-installs on any mobile device.

If you're not down with the Beta, though, Alltel will ship their email app (which integrates with Outlook Mobile) on new devices and should offer a download to existing customers as well (link to that pending). The release brings Alltel up to speed with the other big US wireless carriers in offering a version of Seven's push email client on Windows Mobile, each branded with the carrier's respective identity.

So we're curious because it's a perennial question: Have you found a solution to get push email for your email that isn't Exchange? What is it?

[via phonescoop]

Cellular News is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission has removed the last hurdle for Verizon Wireless to purchase Alltel Corporation. While competitors may claim to have more bars, the purchase will create the nation's largest wireless carrier.

Having cleared the FTC and U.S. Justice Department’s concerns over antitrust issues, Verizon hopes to close the deal as early as practical, which could mean early 2009. The deal involves Verizon Wireless to pay $5.9 billion and assume $22.2 billion of Alltel’s debt.

One can only wonder how this acquisition will re-define "Can you hear me now?"

We told you it was coming, we snagged some early pictures of it, and now the HTC Touch Pro is available on the Alltel network.

And the price matches up to what we previously reported. You’ll pay $599 sans contract, or $279 after rebates and the usual two-year deal.

So, that’s three of the four main carriers we expected to, er, carry the Touch Pro.

Sprint? Check.

AT&T? Check.

Alltel? Check.

Verizon? Any day now.