Alltel Wireless is giving football fans a chance to see their favorite team in action -- up close and personal.

The carrier launched the My Circle Gridiron Getaway sweepstakes on Aug. 30. The text-to-win promotion gives fans the chance to travel with their Circle of Friends via private jet to any regular season college or pro football game of their choice.

"Strategically, the My Circle Gridiron Getaway is an extension of our customer-centricity platform," said Samira Zebian, director of sponsorship marketing for Alltel Wireless, Little Rock, AR. "At Alltel, we believe in giving customers choice and our football promotion will live true to that philosophy."

Fans can enter the Alltel My Circle Gridiron Getaway by texting the word JET to 57533 or by logging onto http://www.alltelfootball.com.

The program targets adults ages 18-49.

"It is also important that we develop sponsorship marketing solutions that can reinforce the value proposition of My Circle and attract a national audience," Ms. Zebian said.

"We believe the My Circle Gridiron Getaway helps us reach these goals and maximize Alltel's resources with a single activation program," she said.

Alltel will run a comprehensive marketing campaign to spread the word about the promotion.

The My Circle Gridiron Getaway is a fully integrated program supported by television, radio, print, digital, direct, in-store, public relations and in-stadium executions.

Five grand prize winners will be chosen among the entries to jet-set to the regular season game of their choice for the ultimate VIP experience, including a pre-game tailgate, spending money and a MOTO Q 9c mobile phone.

In addition to the VIP football experience, one of the five lucky winners and their Circle of Friends will also receive a special tailgate experience with pro football legend Barry Sanders, one of the most prolific running backs of all time.

Alltel Wireless claims to be the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

The carrier has more than 13 million customers.

Verizon Communications earlier this year announced plans to buy Alltel. The deal is expected to close soon.

According to a New York Times report, Alltel recently started its Pic Transfer service.

Each time a user snaps a photo, a box appears on the mobile phone screen asking the shooter if he or she wants to send the photo to Photobucket, Flickr or whatever online service the user prefers.

Subscribers can bring their phones to an Alltel store where a representative asks the questions and does all the work.

Customers who are not near a store can set up the Pic Transfer service on Alltel's Web site.

The Pic Transfer costs $3 per month.

Meanwhile, Alltel's My Circle feature gives customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free.

"My Circle is absolutely a differentiator in the marketplace and has been instrumental in our brand health since its launch in April of 2006," Ms. Zebian said.