HTC Merge shows up on Alltel's website for $125; pre-orders start on Monday

When the HTC Merge paid a visit to the FCC and received its approval, we grew pretty confident that the Android 2.2-powered smartphone was on its way to launch soon. We knew that it would feature a nifty slide-out QWERTY keyboard and probably global-roaming capabilities, but it was still unclear which carrier would add the HTC Merge to its shelves.

Despite the rumors that the HTC Merge was bound for Verizon, it now seems like the smartphone will debut on Alltel's network instead. This isn't that far off since Alltel is mostly owned by Verizon itself, but we also remember from the Merge's announcement in February that the smartphone will eventually be "made available through multiple North American carriers beginning in spring 2011." That pretty much leaves a good chance for the HTC Merge to join Verizon's Android pack some day in the near future.

Pre-orders for the HTC Merge start on Monday, March 28, so everybody interested in it should feel free to give Alltel's website a visit next week. The smartphone will cost you $125 with a contract attached, which seems like a decent price for a mid-end Android device.

source: Alltel via Android Central