4th June 2008 2:41 PM   by Eric M. Zeman   updated Yesterday, 2:45 PM

Reuters is reporting that a source familiar with Verizon Wireless's plans says the company is in serious talks to acquire rural network operator Alltel. Alltel has about 13 million customers. Combined, the merged companies would have more than 80 million subscribers, vaulting it past AT&T, which is the current largest network operator in the U.S in terms of subscribers. The deal could be worth a reported $27 billion.