Rural mobile service Alltel is looking for new technology or licensing pacts to get around a government ban on the US sale of Qualcomm chips.

The US International Trade Commission banned the sale of high-speed wireless phones using Qualcomm chips last month. It allowed phones already being imported on that date, but these are fast running out.

Alltel says it could be hurt by the ban as they depend largely on phones with Qualcomm chips their high-speed wireless services.

Verizon Wireless and Vodafone last month agreed to pay license fees to Broadcom to avoid the ITC ban.

A spokesman for Alltel said the company may have to come up with alternative technology or license pacts like the Verizon/Broadcom deal.

More here.