HTC Merge pictured again, this time with Alltel branding

While there have been plenty of rumors hinting that the HTC Merge would be arriving on Verizon’s network, the rumored late-2010 Verizon launch never surfaced. Now the device has been pictured again and features Alltel’s branding, followed with whispers that the phone is already in the late stages of testing on Alltel’s network, with the launch expected in the next month if the trials complete without any issues. There are also rumors that the Merge might be delayed as HTC is updating it to support Verizon’s LTE network, but it wasn’t included in the carrier’s 4G promotion, so we have our doubts. Aside from the speedy Snapdragon processor and 3.7-inch touchscreen display, one of the major features of the HTC Merge was the inclusion of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, something that text-crazy users will appreciate.