Alltel Wireless annouced today it is now carrying the BlackBerry 8703e.

It's available from Alltel for $249.99 after a $50 rebate mail-in. This price is available to new Alltel customers who sign two-year agreements as well as eligible current customers on qualifying rate plans.

The device will run on Alltel Wireless' Axcess Broadband network, which offers average data speeds of 400 to 700 Kbps with maximum speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps. Current Alltel markets meeting that standard include Cleveland, Charlotte,
Tampa and Phoenix.

The carrier says that "numerous additional cities" will be added in the next several months. For those markets not yet on line (or on air, I guess a better way of putting it would be), the BlackBerry 8703e operates seamlessly on Alltel's Axcess MobileLink 1xRTT network with average data speeds of 40-70 Kbps with bursts up to 144 Kbps.

Additionally, Alltel says that their BlackBerry 8703e's will be preloaded with Handmark Pocket Express and TeleNav GPS Navigator.